By Eric Serrano and Marcos Castillo The Soviets and Poland By Eric Serrano and Marcos Castillo

Quick History of Poland…………………………………………………… March 31st, 1939 British declare aid to guarantee Polish Independence September 17, 1939 Undeclared double-invasion of Poland 230,000 prisoners of war had been captured in the first year About 500,000 total Poles had been arrested by 1941 Nearly 150,000 Poles were killed by the end of 1941

………………………………………………………………………………………… In 1941, Germany replaced Soviet control of Poland by annexing it as part of German Operation Barbarossa The Warsaw Pact is formed in 1955 to create a treaty of friendship between Russia and its satellites

Pope John Paul II Oct. 12, 1978, Karol Wojtyla, archbishop of Krakow, was elected pope. Yuri Andropov, head of the KGB, feared a Polish Pope would destabilize Poland and undermine Soviet authority in the communist block. May 13, 1981, Ali Agca shot the Pope at St. Peter’s Square. Agca was hired by Bulgarian Secret Police under the orders of the KGB

Pope John Paul II…(continued) June 5, 1979, the Pope visited Poland which incited a spiritual revolution that would be problematic for the Soviet Union. The Pope’s visit strengthened the Solidarity Movement “I have had a feeling, particularly in the pope’s visit to Poland, that religion may turn out to be the Soviets’ Achilles’ heel.”- Ronald Reagan

The Solidarity Movement After the movement was strengthened by the Pope’s visit. Solidarity was founded by Lech Walesa on April 14, 1980 in the Lenin Shipyard. By 1980 the government recognized Solidarity as the first independent trade union in the communist bloc. Solidarity gave rise to non-violent anti-communist movement that played a major role in the downfall of the Soviet Union

Solidarity …(Continued) Solidarity drew major supporters such as Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, and Pope John Paul II. Gen. Wojciech Jaruzelski, became the new Prime Minister of Poland in 1981. He cracked down on Solidarity and declared martial law. Solidarity was forced to go underground from 1982-1988 where it received funding, equipment, and advice from the CIA, the Church, and various Western trade Unions.

Solidarity Movement Actions Lech Walesa, the solidarity movement leader organizes a 17,000 worker strike. Gives 21 demands to the Soviet Union for the freedom of trade Unions and higher wages Soviets agree on their conditions but they consider the Polish solidarity movement a threat to Soviet power.

1981-1989 Poland entered a decade of economic crisis Western goods were less common 1981-1983 Marshall was declared Even after Marshall law was removed in 1983 some 240,000 poles were kept imprisoned until 1986

Wojciech Jaruzelski He was a Polish military officer and politician. He was First Secretary of the Polish United Workers Party from 1981 to 1989, and as such was the last leader of the Peoples Republic of Poland. He also served as Prime Minister from 1981 to 1985 and the country's head of statefrom 1985 to 1990.

POLISH SOLIDARITY VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peT3-xSzj08 (10 min) https://youtu.be/rX2hlHRtA6E

This cartoon was created by Andrezya Krauzego in 1981 This cartoon was created by Andrezya Krauzego in 1981. The word solidarity is printed across the back of the man's shirt in Polish. It was published right after the imposement of the Martial Law (which was the military authority over a designated region to try and prevent democratic opposition)

1. What are the events or issues depicted in this cartoon? 2. Describe the symbols in this cartoon and what they mean.