Revolutions in Eastern Europe Chapter 28: The Contemporary Western World

poland Lech Walesa Workers’ protest led to demand for change. He led a union called Solidarity and gained the support of the workers and Roman Catholic Church. 1988 Polish regime finally agreed to parliamentary elections- the first free elections in 40 years! A new government was elected, ending 45 years of communist rule in Poland!! Problems: Free-market reforms led to severe unemployment and popular discontent.

Czechoslovakia Massive repression since 1968 (Soviets crushed a reform movement). Writers and intellectuals continued to oppose the government. 1988-1989 Mass demonstrations throughout Czechoslovakia. By December of 1989, the Communist government collapsed. Vaclav Havel (VAHT-SLAHF HAH-vel) Writer who played an important role in bringing down the Communist government became president—pro- democracy!! Problems: Old ethnic conflict (Czechs and Slovaks) Agreed to divide the country. 1993 split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Romania Dictatorial Regime in 1965 Economic policies led to problems: Drop in living standards like food shortages and rationing. Urbanization led to the destruction of entire villages. Secret Police 1989 murdered thousands of men, women, and children who were peacefully demonstrating. Army refused to support any more repression. Nicolae Ceausesu (chow-SHEHS-koo) and his wife were captured and executed on Christmas Day 1989.

German reunification Erich Honecker Became the head of the Communist Party in East Germany in 1971 Used the Stasi, the secret police to rule for 18 years Problems: Popular unrest led many people to flee their country. 1989 Communist government opened border with the West. Berlin Wall came down. (Symbol of the Cold War) 1990 First free elections Winning party supported union with West Germany! One Germany!!

Yugoslavia Tito was the dictator there from 1945-1980 Never been a satellite nation. Tito was the dictator there from 1945-1980 He worked to keep the six republics and two provinces together. Calls for Independence By 1990s new parties emerged and authority of the Communist Party had collapsed. Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Macedonia all wanted independence. Slobodan Milosevic rejected these efforts! Slovenia and Croatia declared their independence and Yugoslavian army began a full assault against Croatia. Result: Ceasefire, the Serbian forces had captured one-third of Croatia’s territory in brutal fighting

Bosnia 1992 – The Serbs had turned their guns on Bosnia-Herzegovina. Many Bosnians were Muslims and the Serbs were following a policy they called ethnic cleansing! By 1995, 250,000 Bosnians had been killed (mostly civilians), two million others homeless. NATO bombing attacks helped Bosnia and Croatia regain territory that had been lost to Serbian forces. Peace treaty signed on December 14, 1995. Agreement split Bosnia into a loose union of a Serb republic and a Muslim- Croat federation.

Kosovo 1998 War in Kosovo was between the ethnic Albanians and Serbian rule. Milosevic took away Kosovo’s autonomy. Some groups of ethnic Albanians founded the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) and began to campaign against Serbian rule. Serbs began to massacre ethnic Albanians. The U.S. and NATO wanted a settlement to end the killing. 1999 Albanians in Kosovo regained autonomy in Serbia. Serbs forced hundreds of thousands of ethnic Albanians from their homes in Kosovo, creating a massive refuge crisis. 2000 elections ended Milosevic’s rule Tried at the International Court of Justice for his role in the massacre. 2003 Serbia and Montenegro formed a republic.