1981

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The year 1981 was partly marked by the peace movement. The Cold War, which had relaxed somewhat after the end of the Vietnam War with the fatigue of the participants, gained again rhetorical sharpness. Soviet troops had invaded Afghanistan in 1979, two years earlier, under Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev, which drew world attention to Central Asia. At the same time, the US had lost its outpost there with the Islamic Revolution in Iran. The SALT II talks between the major powers had failed, so NATO relied on their double decision. In 1981, Ronald Reagan became a Republican President of the United States whose stated goal was to win the arms race against the Warsaw Pact. Divided Europe should play a key role as a base for intermediate-range nuclear missiles.

Against this backdrop, peace rallies took place in Germany and throughout Europe in 1981, the largest of which, on 21 November in Amsterdam, attracted 400,000 people. The protests were part of a larger underground culture that included environmentalism, nuclear opponents, and the squatter scene.

Events

Poland
In response to the desolate situation in the People's Republic of Poland, a new, independent trade union, Solidarność, had been founded in 1980, which already in November 1980 included about 10 million out of 16 million workers (see also August strikes). After the first strikes, hardliners in the Politburo were exchanged for moderate politicians; Then the situation relaxed. Nevertheless, the Soviet Union and the CPSU (1964-1982 ruled by Leonid Brezhnev) increased the pressure on the PVAP to fight the “counter-revolution” and repeatedly organized maneuvers near the borders of Poland.

In the spring of 1981 there were repeated violent clashes between state bodies and trade union activists. On the occasion of the further deteriorating economic situation, wild strikes accumulated. In this crucial phase, the proven mediation possibilities of the Church in Poland were also limited, because in May the attack on Pope John Paul II. It was committed on the 28th. Primate Stefan Wyszyński died.

After the first National Congress of Solidarity in September 1981 adopted an even stronger political commitment and addressed a message to all workers of the other socialist states, the PVAP leadership finally decided on a confrontational course. At the 4th Central Committee Plenary from 16 to 18. In October, party leader Stanisław Kania was replaced by the hardline Minister of Defense, General Wojciech Jaruzelski. Despite the willingness of the “Solidarność” to compromise, took over in the night of 12 to 13. December 1981 Military and security organs take power in Poland. General Jaruzelski announced in a television address the imposition of martial law. The Füh