The Fall of Communism in Eastern Europe

The reason why Communism collapsed in the Eastern European satellite states
towards the late 1980s was partly due to the USSR’s lack of commitment towards its
territories. Under Gorbachev, the USSR became less involved since it did not have
enough money to support them anymore, as it was going through a period of
stagflation. The decline of financing led to a halt in economic growth, with living
standards taking a downturn. Furthermore, Gorbachev’s policy of glasnost permitted
people to freely express their opinions and denounce the government’s actions. The
criticism developed, and eventually nationalistic movements were formed, which
would subsequently act and depose Communism.

Fall of Communism in Poland (1989)

In 1978, the John Paul II was elected Pope. Poland was one of the most devoutly
Catholic nations in Europe, and the election gave the people hope and strength. A
number of strikes throughout 1980 led to the formation of Solidarity, an independent
trade union led by Walesa, and integrated by groups of different beliefs, but still all
against Communism. By 1981, the union had nine million members.
In 1981, as a result of the turmoil caused by the strikes, Poland’s new Party leader
Jaruzelski proclaimed martial law and suspended Solidarity, imprisoning most of its
leaders. By 1983 the martial law had been lifted, yet as a result of the tight control of
the population and food rationings by said law, many people began aligning
themselves with Solidarity.
By 1988 Solidarity was organizing nationwide strikes, which caused the government
to organize talks amongst the leaders of the trade union. The reason for Solidarity’s
uninterrupted uprising was due to Gorbachev’s decision to not intervene in the
satellite states.
In 1989 the Soviet government in Poland announced that free elections would take
place in June; the results were Solidarity’s victory and the election of Walesa as
president.

Romania (1989)
In 1967 Ceausescu became President of Romania. It was during the 1980s where the
Romanian president found himself in trouble as the people’s discontent grew stronger.
In order to repay the Western loans and build the Palace of the People, cuts had to be
made in certain areas in order to achieve these two objectives. Food, petrol, and
electricity rationings were introduced. People had to make queues for oil and food; the
only TV channel was broadcasted for two hours each day; a Sunday curfew was
introduced; gas and heating had to be turned off; all shops had to close at 17:30 in
order to preserve electricity.

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As a result of these measures living conditions greatly deteriorated, as well as the
anger towards the government and its secret police – the Securitate – who become
stricter (bugged phones; extended censorship).
The first major event that would culminate in December 1989 with the disposition of
Ceausescu was the Brasov Rebellion in 1987, where 20,000 workers took to the
streets of Brasov protesting their reduced salaries, and the proposed elimination of
15,000 jobs in the city.
Lesser protests were carried out throughout 1989, but the turning point came on 16
and 17 December 1989, when during the protests in Timisoara against the
government’s eviction of Tokes, soldiers opened fire on the protesters, killing around
100 people. The people were in awe and shock, and their escalating anger turned into
hatred.
On 21 December Ceausescu convoked an urgent meeting in Bucharest, yet outside
demonstrators gathered condemning the government’s actions in Timisoara. The
Securitate fought against the protestors, killing around 1,100 of them. The army
switched sides, and as the protestors clearly had the upper hand by storming the CC
building, so did the Securitate. Ceausescu fled by helicopter, yet he was captured in
Targoviste and executed with his wife.
In 1990, Iliescu of the democratic FSN became president.

Fall of Communism in East Germany (1990)

The USSR’s stagflation period affected all its satellite states, including East Germany.
In 1989, inspired by the events in Poland of Solidarity and the fall of Communism,
and encouraged by glasnost and perestroika, protests began occurring in the city of
Leipzig with up to 1,500 demonstrators. East Germans, despising their authoritarian
leader Honecker and his secret police – the Stasi – and longing for the reunification
of their country, began taking to the streets and joining the demonstrators, with the
number of protesters reaching 120,000. During these months political movements
such as the New Forum and Peace Movement begun to emerge.
The protests kept escalating with numbers in Leipzig reaching 300,000 and the
deposition of Honecker. The situation was beyond control and the East German
authorities began allowing citizens to enter West Berlin and West Germany.
On 9 November 1989, the tearing down of the Berlin Wall began.

Czechoslovakia (1989)
A Communist government had been implemented in Czechoslovakia in 1948 under
the leadership of the KSC. As usual amongst Soviet satellite states, Czechoslovakians
suffered political persecution; freedom of speech and of the press; and a deterioration
of working and living conditions due to the failure of the imposed planned economy.
Gorbachev’s 1985 policies of glasnost and perestroika encouraged the people to
protest and challenge the government more openly. Encouraged by the events in East

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Germany and Poland, on 17 November 1989, 15,000 students marched through the
streets of Prague protesting against the government. At the “death” of one of the
students, the population was mobilised and the Velvet Revolution began.
By the 24th the number of protestors had reached 500,000 and the General Secretary
of the KSC – Milos Jakes – resigned. Four days later the KSC announced the
disintegration of the party, and on the 29th Vaclav Havel was elected President.