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Polish Crisis, 1980-1981 Clear All

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Eastern Europe

Poland

September 1980 crisis in Poland

1980-81 Polish Crisis

Leonid Brezhnev, 1974.

Brezhnev, Leonid Il'ich

1906- 1982

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Kania, Stanislaw

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Jaruzelski, W. (Wojciech)

1923- 2014

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Andropov, Yuri Vladimirovich

1914- 1984

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

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

Eastern Europe

Soviet Union

Soviet Foreign Policy

Ryszard Kukliński Collection

Andrei Gromyko at the UN, 1981

Gromyko, Andrei Andreevich

1909- 1989

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

Eastern Europe

East Germany

Warsaw Pact

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Eastern Europe

Czechoslovakia

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Eastern Europe

Hungary

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Leonid Brezhnev Collection

Photograph of Gorbachev-Bush summit at Malta, 1989

End of the Cold War

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Western Europe

Austria

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Documents

November 30, 1981	Memorandum from John Stein to the Director of Central Intelligence, '[Redacted] Report' Translation of a classified report from the Polish Ministry of Internal Affairs, covering the general sociopolitical situation in Poland, anti-government and anti-party activity, labor and farmer unrest, the situation in mass media and artistic circles, the activity of the Roman Catholic clergy, violations of public law and order, and other hostile activity. Opinions of Western diplomats and press correspondents are highlighted.
October 13, 1981	Memorandum from John Stein to the Director of Central Intelligence, '[Redacted] Report' Translated resolution from the Council of State indicating if public discipline gets worse, then martial law must be instated.
November 23, 1981	Memorandum from John Stein to the Director of Central Intelligence, '[Redacted] Report' Translation of a Polish document presented by the Polish Armed Forces on possible radical military measures against Polish strikes and protests. The military can either introduce increased combat readiness of the armed forces in an overt manner or secret preparations for surprises.
October 13, 1981	Memorandum from John Stein to the Secretaries of State and Defense and Director of the National Security Agency, 'Current Political/Military Situation in Poland' Translation detailing Soviet interaction with Polish military officials, contingency plans for public backlash against martial law, and possible political backlash.
October 7, 1981	Intelligence Information Special Report, 'Current Status of Preparations for Declaration of Martial Law in Poland' Translation of a military document which shows Poland is ready to declare martial law at any time. It argues for a surprise declaration in order to catch opposition off guard.
September 30, 1981	Memorandum from John Stein to the Secretaries of State and Defense and Director of the National Security Agency, '[Redacted] Report' Translation of both the decree and rationale for martial law. It elaborates on the various duties of citizens as well as new restrictions on freedom.
September 18, 1981	Memorandum from John Stein to the Secretaries of State and Defense and Director of the National Security Agency, 'Agenda for the Meeting of the National Defense Committee on 14 September; Current Positions of the Political and Military Leadership...' Translated agenda of the National Defense Committee meeting from September 14th, as well as outline the positions of military and government officials on the implementation of martial law.
September 9, 1981	Memorandum from Clair George to the Secretaries of State and Defense and Director of the National Security Agency, 'New Draft Decree on Martial Law; Current Situation in Poland' Memorandum explains of a newly drafted decree of martial law, and increasing tensions between military leadership and Solidarnosc.
September 4, 1981	Memorandum from Clair George to the Secretaries of State and Defense and Director of the National Security Agency, '[Redacted] Report' Translation from a Defense Committee chaired by General Jaruzelski addressing the rising threat of Solidarnosc and other threats to national security.
August 25, 1981	Memorandum from [Redacted] to the Director of Central Intelligence, 'Martial Law in Poland' Memorandum outlining Poland's martial law plan, whether it could work, and the attitudes of Polish leadership.