Dr. Jakub Basista
Political and Social History of CEE in 20th Century
Topic 17.
Gierek’s Poland and Kadar’s Hungary 2 .
The emerge of democratic opposition in Central Europe.
1968
1 January– Hungary’s party leaders introduce a set of economic reforms called New Economic Mechanism (NEM). It is done against strong doctrinaire opposition.
12 November– the Brezhnev Doctrine is advanced in a speech before the Polish party congress: “a threat to a Socialist country is a threat to all Socialist countries”. This includes both international and domestic policy.
1969
5-17 June– a meeting of 75 Communist parties in Moscow; Soviet leaders hope for a condemnation of China but fail
24 November– the United States and the USSR ratify the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
1970
19 March – W.Germany Chancellor Willy Brandt meets for the first time with Willi Stoph, p.m. of E.Germany; no visible results
13 August– Willy Brandt and p.m. Kosygin sign a non-aggression treaty in Moscow
October – French president Pompidou visits USSR
23-28 November– the Xth congress of the Hungarian Socialist Workers Party declares its full agreement with the Soviet party concerning all major issues of international and national relations. Promise of continuation of economic reforms is phrased.
6-8 December– Willy Brandt visits Poland and signs a treaty recognising the Oder-Neisse border
1971
30 March – 9 April – XXIVth congress of the CPSU; representatives of 91 countries attend
3 May– Walter Ulbricht, 1st secretary of E.German Socialist Party (SED) resigns; he is succeeded by Erich Honeker
1972
29 March– first time in 6 years West Germans are allowed through Berlin Wall to visit relatives
22-29 May– R.Nixon visits Moscow; SALT 1 is signed
1973
18-22 May– L.Brezhnev visits FRG; agreement for economic co-operation and assistance is signed
18-25 June– L.Brezhnev visits USA
25-26 June– L.Brezhnev visits France
1975
30 July – 1 August – the “Helsinki Accords” are signed by 33 European states, Canada and the USA at the first summit meeting of the Conference of Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE). The accords finalise the borders of European states and guarantee human rights.
1976
24 June– p.m. Jaroszewicz announces rise of prices; strikes in Radom and Ursus follow; on 25 price raises are withdrawn, but severe action is taken against strikers
September 23 – the calling to life of KOR (Committee for Workers’ Defence)
KOR – Komitet Obrony Robotników
An openly functioning organisation called to life by a group of Warsaw intellectuals with the aim of helping workers oppressed by the regime and the police. Its methods were peaceful, non-violent. Its aim was help of individuals and information.
September – first underground “Biuletyn Informacyjny” published – a periodical retyped on a typewriter intended to break the state monopoly on information.
1977
7 January– 257 Czechoslovak intellectuals sign “Charter 77” – shows many similarities with KOR, but was never allowed to function as openly and dynamically as LOR in Poland.
1977
7 January– 257 Czechoslovak intellectuals sign “Charter 77”
February – amnesty in Poland for the majority of arrested in 1976.
March – forming of ROPCiO in Poland (Ruch Obrony Praw Człowieka i Obywatela) an organisation intended to defend human rights.
May – Kraków student Stanisław Pyjas murdered – forming of SKS – Studencki Komitet Solidarności – student solidarity committee, which started to work closely with KOR and workers’ milieu in all major centres in Poland.
17 July– another amnesty in Poland – all political prisoners freed from arrest
1978
January – calling to life of TKN – Towarzystwo Kursów Naukowych (an Underground University) – a flying, underground university. Created by a group of professors TKN organized lectures on topic banned by authorities and thus not presented at universities. All lectures took place at private homes. Very often these were disturbed and even “crushed” by secret police and special groups. Many people attending lectures were beaten up by “unknown” individuals.
February – calling to life of first independent labour union in Katowice by Kazimierz Świtoń
April – WZZ (Wolne Związki Zawodowe) called to life at seashore (Gdańsk, Szczecin) – free labour union called to life. One of its organizers was Lech Wałęsa.
16 October– Polish cardinal, Karol Wojtyła elected pope in Rome
1979
Soviet Union installs rockets SS-20
June – John Paul II visits Poland
July – Młoda Polska called to life – a youth, student organisation, which aimed at self-education and preparation for active life in politics. They based their activity on social teaching of the church.
Fall – “Doświadczenie i Przyszłość” formed – a semi-legal seminar formed to diagnose the state of Poland. It was not open and very specialised. This seminar worked on some very specialised commentaries and analysis of Polish state, which were later used by Solidarity and even Round Table in 1980/81 and 1989.
December – NATO agrees to install “Pershing II” and “Cruise” missiles in Europe after 1983
27 December– Soviet Union enters Afghanistan