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1980-81 Polish Crisis Polish Crisis, 1980-1981 Clear All

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September 1980 crisis in Poland

1980-81 Polish Crisis

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Eastern Europe

Poland

Leonid Brezhnev, 1974.

Brezhnev, Leonid Il'ich

1906- 1982

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Kania, Stanislaw

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Soviet Union. Communist Party. Central Committee (CPSU CC). Politburo

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Soviet Foreign Policy

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Andropov, Yuri Vladimirovich

1914- 1984

Andrei Gromyko at the UN, 1981

Gromyko, Andrei Andreevich

1909- 1989

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Jaruzelski, W. (Wojciech)

1923- 2014

Soviet soldier taking a photograph of another soldier in Red Square, Moscow, 1959

Eastern Europe

Soviet Union

Warsaw Pact

The Palace of the Republic (Palast der Republik) in Berlin

Eastern Europe

East Germany

Ryszard Kukliński Collection

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Leonid Brezhnev Collection

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Eastern Europe

Czechoslovakia

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Eastern Europe

Hungary

Warsaw Pact Military Planning

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Eastern Europe

Belarus

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August 28, 1980	Special Dossier on the Polish Crisis of 1980 Memorandum to the CPSU Politburo from the Suslov Commission regarding a request by the Soviet Ministry of Defense to bring up to full readiness 3 divisions of the Soviet Armed Forces. The memorandum cautions the Soviet leadership that, in case the Polish Armed Forces switch allegiance to the counter-revolutionary forces, another 5-7 divisions might be necessary.
December 5, 1980	Stenographic Minutes of the Meeting of Leading Representatives of the Warsaw Pact Countries in Moscow Leonid Brezhnev and East European communist leaders discuss the strikes of the 1980-1981 Polish crisis and their aftermath and causes, including the formation of the Solidarity Union. The repercussions of the crisis for socialism in Poland and other Warsaw Pact countries is discussed, as well as possible measures to counter the anti-socialist uprising.
January 14, 1982	CPSU CC Politburo transcript, 14 January 1982 (excerpt) Brezhnev discusses Soviet talks with Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Czyrek. Brezhnev also informs the Politburo about the state of the PZPR, the Polish economy, the newly instituted Polish martial law, and the leadership of Jaruzelski.
March 17, 1981	Information regarding the meeting between Karel Hoffmann, President of the Central Unions' Council and Member of the CPCz CC Presidium, and Stanislaw Kania, PUWP CC First Secretary, Warsaw, (excerpt) Information regarding the meeting between Karel Hoffmann, President of the Central Unions' Council and Member of the CPCz CC Presidium, and Stanislaw Kania, PUWP CC First Secretary, Warsaw, (excerpt), criticizing Kania’s leadership of the PUWP
April 9, 1981	Speech of CPSU General Secretary Leonid Iliyich Brezhnev before the CPCz CC Presidium in Prague, (excerpt) Speech of CPSU General Secretary Brezhnev before the CPCz CC Presidium in Prague, (excerpt) regarding the situation in Poland and criticizing Polish leadership
May 16, 1981	Memorandum Regarding the Meeting Between Comrade Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev, Erich Honecker, and Gustav Husak in the Kremlin Memorandum Regarding the Meeting Between Comrade Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev, Erich Honecker, and Gustav Husak in the Kremlin describing the Polish situation and criticizing Polish leadership
November 4, 1980	Letter from Leonid Brezhnev to Erich Honecker Leonid Brezhnev writes to East German leader Erich Honecker, regarding the Polish Crisis. Brezhnev suggests that the Soviet Union reduce oil shipments to the GDR, in order to alleviate Poland's economic crisis.
November 14, 1980	Directive from the CPSU Secretariat, 14 November 1980, Reducing Tourist Exchanges with Poland The CPSU CC proposes to reduce tourism between the Soviet Union and Poland, given Poland's political situation.
December 11, 1980	Transcript of the CPSU Politburo Session, 11 December 1980 The Politburo approves the results of a meeting of Warsaw Pact officials. Kania offers assurances that PZPR will be able to control the Polish crisis on its own.
January 14, 1981	Directive from the CPSU Secretariat, 14 January 1981, with Supporting Cables CPSU gives instructions to the Communist Party of Italy on how to deal with Solidarity leader Lech Walesa's visit.