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The Cold War Title and Author of Packet: Service 22 Towards Reform Topic 5: The Cold War Title and Author of Packet: Service 22 Towards Reform & Crozier 37 The Polish Turning Point Major Theme: Origins of the Cold War Ideological Differences Mutual Suspicion and Fear From Wartime Allies to Post-War Enemies Historiography Major Theme: Nature of the Cold War Ideological Opposition Superpowers and Spheres of Influence Alliances and Diplomacy in the Cold War Historiography Major Theme: Development and Impact of the Cold War Global Spread of the Cold War from its European Origins Cold War Policies of Containment, Brinkmanship, Peaceful Coexistence, Détente Role of the United Nations and the Non-Aligned Movement Role and Significance of Leaders Arms Race, Proliferation and Limitation Social, Cultural, and Economic Impact Historiography Major Theme: End of the Cold War Break-Up of Soviet Union: Internal Problems and External Yuri Andropov becomes General Secretary following Brezhnev’s death in 1982. He Pressures had risen through communist ranks since Stalin’s era; and had become head of the KGB in 1967. o Initially he face a great deal of opposition in attempting to: . Modify official policies . End corruption o He felt discipline was needed for the economy- which was needed for parity with the US (in and standard of living) o He felt Brezhnev had been too lax Crackdown (that disproportionality impacted working mothers) o Revamped the party with younger, freer thinking individuals. (Gorbachev) o Asked new people to investigate how to boost economy. o He wanted limited reform within the system. Granted limited autonomy. o Sought to reinstate detente . Proposed meetings with Reagan. Arms reduction. A mutual promise of no intervention- even within own systems. Reagan was having none of that Star Wars . reescalation; a South Korean plane shot down over the USSR lead to a second Cuban crisis Andropov’s declining health lead to greater power for Cherenkov and Gorbachev. o Cherenkov briefly succeeded Andropov; he was chosen for his weakness- to preserve the status quo. o Cherenkov was sick when he was appointed and real control was ceded immediately to Gorbachev. Gorbachev became general secretary on March 11th 1985; the day after Cherenkov’s death. o His radicalism was unknown at the time of his appointment o Wasn’t afraid of capitalism and knew there were systemic bureaucratic problems o Continued Andropov’s advancement of new people-quickly replacing higher ups. Increased education, and local awareness of party elites. o Economic slogan: acceleration o 1985:super-ministry for the cultivation and processing of foodstuffs created. “State Committee for the Agro-industrial complex” (Gosagroprom). Administrative change in agriculture: good, but not nearly good enough. Maybe even exacerbated the problems of bureaucracy. o 12th five year plan focused on machine building . All industrial sectors need more money. Impossible to do, but true. Plan based on false premises. o Continued anti-corruption push o Made appointment from the bottom up- to guarantee support for himself o Announced non-interference in Warsaw pact nation’s internal politics in 1986. o Communism is better than capitalism- but we have to reform! o 1985: Let’s think about getting out of Afghanistan. o Chernobyl means the regime needs more than just administrative change. o Gorbachev wanted to save the USSR and communism o “The irony was that Gorbachev, in trying to prevent the descent of the system into general crisis, proved instrumental in bringing forward that crisis and destroying the USSR.” Breakdown of Soviet Control Over Central and Eastern Europe In 1980 the cost of meat rose by 60% in Poland as a part of a labor overhaul that intensified unrest. Although the USSR considered direct and indirect military intervention they chose to install new leadership and martial law. The Polish United Workers Party PUWP was the initial antagonizer; they called for o Free trade unions o Free press o Release of dissenters o Strong Catholic Church o They refused to allow violent demonstrations, and spread strikes to areas that had remained active in previous crises Changes in Leadership o Mid-summer 1980 Party Secretary Edward Gierek steps down; succeeded by the head of intelligence Stanislaw Kania on Sept. 6. o P.M. Edward Babiuch resigns in Sept. ’80 after taking over from Piotr Jaroszewicz in Feb. ’80. Replaced by Jozef Pinkowski. Lech Walesa chosen to advocate for the reinstatement of select workers. Becomes head of National Committee of Solidarity in Sept. Catholic Church comes out as pro-worker in May July 9: Gierek calls for tiny wage increase for lowest paid- strikes spread Jimmy Carter denounces intervention after international threats from USSR (Sept.) Feb. 1981: Moscow’s General Wojciech Jaruzelski replaces Pinkowski as PM. March 28-29 1981 was to be a ‘state of emergency’ in Poland, allowing East Germany to enter. The information was leaked to the US, England and the Vatican beforehand and no intervention occurred. The KGB beat Solidarity members on March 19th; to discredit polish leaders and provoke Solidarity leaders who had begun to work toward reform. Brezhnev went with the Brezhnev doctrine, in opposition to Reagan Soviet delegates in 1980 and 81 let slip that they felt the Wet would always save the USSR The KGB and USSR installed Jaruzelski into total control of Poland in Oct. ‘81 o Jaruzelski was told to bring Poland to heel or lose Russian oil, gas, and raw materials. o Labor unrest continued with Solidarity membership swelling to 9.5 million in October of 81. o The head of the KGB advised martial law in Poland, advice that was heeded on Dec 12, 1981; due to Solidarity’s call for a referendum on the authority of the government. o Walesa was arrested the next day. o The Military Council for National Salvation banned political activity by trade unions. o Poland closed it borders and communications on Dec. 13 immediately before mass arrests. o Reagan temporarily halted grain shipments to Poland and limited their access to American waters. Also no computers to USSR. Europe refrained from such direct action. England took America’s stance in January of 1982. o By March of 1982 Jaruzelski was able to go to Moscow having followed Moscow’s hard line stance. This resulted in increased repression, arrests, imprisonments, and abuses. Historiography Service: Andropov had, “a cognitive humility uncharacteristic of previous leaders of the communist party.” He wanted to learn and adapt. Andropov made progress, but was too traditionalist for real change. Gorbachev “learned that capitalism was not a moribund economic system that, despite many defect, it offered many sections of its societies a breadth of material goods unrivalled in the USSR.” “Gosagroprom was not going to dislodge a single brick in the bureaucratic wall…increase the wall’s solidity.” Gorbachev did not think, “that communism was doomed in the USSR and Eastern Europe. The exact opposite was true.” (1986) Without Gorbachev the end of the USSR would’ve been later and bloodier. .
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