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1980-81 Polish Crisis 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

Pyongyang photographed in March 20212

East Asia

North Korea

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April 9, 1981	Session of the CPSU CC Politburo, 09 April 1981 (excerpt) Soviet leaders discuss the results of a meeting held by Cdes. Yu. V. Andropov and D.F. Ustinov with the Polish, where the Polish reported that it was difficult to conduct business with the counterrevolutionary activity, but that the situation was begining to stabilize in the wake of CPSU 26th Congress. A discussion of Poland's situation and recommendations ensued.
April 30, 1981	Session of the CPSU CC Politburo, 30 April 1981 (excerpt) Soviet leaders discuss the results of negotiations between a CPSU delegation and the PZPR leadership, and express concern with the decisions of the Polish leadership.
June 18, 1981	Session of the CPSU CC Politburo, 18 June 1981 (excerpt) Discussion of conversation between Brezhnev and Kania regarding the counterrevolution and other matters.
August 22, 1981	Notes from Brezhnev's Meeting with Stanislaw Kania and Wojciech Jaruzelski, 14 August 1981 In this meeting, Brezhnev expresses anxiety about Poland's path, especially since it has deteriorated since Congress when it was expected to improve. Kania says that the political crisis can be overcome and that theyare seizing the initiative. Brezhnev insists that they will soon face off with the enemy, and there is still the opportunity to mobilize and rebuff the counterrevolution. Brezhnev concludes that large scale political action is the most feasible way to turn Poland to socialism.
September 10, 1981	Session of the CPSU CC Politburo, 10 September 1981 (excerpt) The Soviet Politburo discusses dissent within Poland and the loss of power of the communist party in Poland.
September 15, 1981	Transcript of Brezhnev's Phone Conversation with Kania, 15 September 1981 Brezhnev worries the Polish Solidarity movement will undermine communist authority in Poland and other parts of Eastern Europe.
September 17, 1981	Session of the CPSU CC Politburo, 17 September 1981 (excerpt) Brezhnev informs the Politburo about his conversation with Cde. Kania of Poland on 11 September, 1981. He suggests applying strong pressure to Kania to put down the uprising.
October 29, 1981	Session of the CPSU CC Politburo, 29 October 1981 (excerpt) Soviet Politburo meeting discusses removing Cde. Kania due to uprisings in Poland. It also addresses shortages of oil and supplies for export and use within the Soviet Union.
April 13, 1982	KGB Annual Report for 1981 (Excerpts) In this report Andropov describes the successes of the KGB and Cheka in subverting the infiltration of counterintelligence of NATO countries and Solidarity in the Soviet Union.
October 29, 1980	Session of the CPSU CC Politboro on 'Materials for a Friendly Working Visit to the USSR by Polish Leaders' The CPSU CC Politboro discusses the anti-socialist movement in Poland, and how the Polish leadership should deal with the crisis. The Politboro begins to form an economic solution for Poland.