The ‘Velvet’ Revolutions of 1989/1990: Hungary , GDR, Czechoslovakia .

1. The ‘Velvet’ Revolutions of 1989/1990: Hungary,GDR, Czechoslovakia. Meetings 19-20.

3. Hungary 1956 October/November – Hungarian revolution is crushed by the Soviet Red Army; Imre Nagy is arrested after leaving the Yugoslav Embassy; Jànos Kádár becomes First Secretary 11 December- Martial Law introduced in Hungary; bloody revenge after the revolt 1958 1 January - three-year economic plan accepted 16 June - execution of Imre Nagy and his closest collaborators 7 December- collectivization of agriculture 1961 1 January - five-year economic plan 26 August- last death sentences against the 1956 revolution participants 1963 21 March - amnesty for almost all sentenced in the years 1957-58 1966 28 November-3 December – IX Congress of Hungarian Party decides on NEM 1968 1 January - introduction of NEM August - Hungarian army takes part in crushing the Prague Spring

4. 1972 April- constitution changed; leading role of the party introduced into the constitution 1975 1-22 March - XI Congress of the Party declares that developed socialist community has been achieved 1980 1 May- “Network of free initiatives” grouping opposition is organized; a loose alliance of various groups contesting the communist rule and existing situation. They appealed to society to break silence and get engaged in the light of coming political and social crisis.The group never formalized itself and never formed coherent strutures, what was positive at start and turned to be their weakness in late 1980s. 1982 6 May- Hungary accepted into IMF 7 July- Hungary accepted into the World Bank 1987 25 June- Károly Grósz, a party reformer, becomes Prime Minister 3 September- Hungarian Democratic Forum is called to life a centre-right political party: it had a Hungarian nationalist, national-conservative and christian democratic ideology.

5. 1988 March- Alliance of Young Democrats - Fidesz called to life 3 May- Jànos Kádár resigns as a Secretary General replaced by Károly Grósz. Reformers enter the Party top organs 16 June - Police breaks up demonstration recalling Imre Nagy and demanding his rehabilitation 27 June - a demonstration of 50,000 in Budapest protesting against Ceauşescu’s policy in Transylvania (ethnic cleansing and moving of about 7000 villagers out of their land) 23 October- police breaks up demonstration on anniversary of 1956 October - Hungarian Democratic Forum with nationalist trend is legalized as a party 13 November– Association ofFree Democrats is registered as a party (first opposition party to be registered); it is a liberal party with roots in the 1970s and 1980s opposition 24 November – Miklós Németh becomes p.m. (young reform minded politician) November- reviving of political parties de-legalized during Stalinist era: the Party of Small Property Owners; Social Democratic Party

6. 1989 11 January – parliament passes a law on freedom of association and freedom of speech 28 January – Party and government officials change their reading of 1956: from “counter-revolution” these events are considered “a mass people’s uprising against the oligarchic powers which humiliated the nation” 11 February – multi-party system allowed by the parliament; about 50 parties are revived or established 15 March- demonstration in Budapest to mark 141st anniversary of 1848 Spring of Nations 22 March- opposition parties form Opposition Round Table – a concept to work together and not be divided by the government and the party 13 June - the beginning of the so-called Triangular Table Talks – opposition, government and social side (organizations from within the governmental structures) 16 June - 300,000 demonstration in Budapest takes part in Imre Nagy’s funeral (transmitted live on Television) 6 July- Imre Nagy rehabilitated; Jànos Kádár dies

7. 11 September- Hungarian authorities open border with Austria allowing 15,000 refugees from the GDR to escape to the West 18 September- finalizing of Triangular Table Talks; new draft laws drawn, among others on free elections and changes in the constitution 7 October- Communist Party (Hungarian Socialist Workers’ Party) changed into Hungarian Socialist Party (Hungarian party is the first to be disbanded in the Communist Block): for the first time in history a ruling Communist party is disbanded 18 October – new constitution guarantees multi-party system; Constitutional Tribunal is set up 23 October – democratic Hungarian Republic is proclaimed 26 November – a general referendum takes place: it decides that free elections of president will take place after free parliamentary elections 18-21 December – parliament decides to step down on 16 March 1990; free elections to follow on 25 March 1990

8. German Democratic Republic 1945 8 May – end of WW II, beginning of occupation of Germany; decisions at Potsdam; occupation of Berlin 1948 24 June – The Berlin Blockade till 12 May 1949 1949 7 October – following the establishment of NATO and West Germany, German Democratic Republic (GDR) is called to life 1952 26 May – inner German border is closed, except for Berlin 1953 17 June – uprising in various German cities 1961 4 June – 9 November – Berlin crisis 13 August – Berlin War is erected (out of estimated 5000 escapees 139 died while trying to cross the wall – the total death toll for two Germanys border stands at 327: youngest 6 months, oldest 81 years old)

9. 1987 25 November - Stasi raid the Umweltbibliothek in East Berlin seeking to stop underground printing 1988 7 January – protestors join the official Rosa Luxemburg demonstration (over 100 detained) 1989 18 January – Erich Honecker states that the Berlin Wall “will stand for fifty years, even one hundred years, unless reasons for its existence disappear” 6 February – Chris Gueffroy is another victim of the Berlin Wall (killed by border guards as he tries to escape the wall) 2 May – Hungary starts to open border with the West 7 May – local elections in the GDR; they were monitored through „exit polls” by opposition groups for the first time to reveal mass falsification (officially 98.85% backing the Unity List) 7 June – 120 opposition members arrested as they try to pass on a report on falsifying of the elections to the Council of Ministers August-September – GDR citizens in large numbers occupy FRG embassies in Budapest, Prague and Warsaw 8 August – the Offices of the Permanent Representative of FRG in East Berlin are closed when 130 people seek refuge there

10. 4 September- prayers for peace in St. Nicholas’s Church in Leipzig lead to a spontaneous demonstration; alike demonstrations follow on every Monday thereafter leading to incidents, arrests and alike 11 September- Hungary opens its border to all citizens of GDR without prior consultation with East Berlin; over the next three days 15000 leave for Austria and FRG via Hungary 19 September- opposition group – the New Forum demands official registration; a first time precedent in GDR; permission is denied 30 September- GDR authorities agree that their citizens in Warsaw and Prague may leave for FRG; some 7,600 people leave on GDR trains from Poland via Czechoslovakia and from Czechoslovakia 2 October- 20,000 strong demonstration in Leipzig singing “We’re staying here” 6-7 October- 40th anniversary of GDR; counter-march organised for freedom brings together about 7,000 people in central Berlin protests in other cities: Leipzig, Dresden, Potsdam, Plauen and Jena; 700 arrested in Berlin; over 1000 in other places SDP (Social Democratic Party) of GDR is established 9 October- 70,000 protest in Leipzig – no force applied due to mediation of Kurt Masur, an orchestra conductor

11. 18 October- Honecker relieved of all Party and government functions at his own request (ill-health); Egon Krenz becomes First Secretary of SED 20-25 October- huge demonstrations in Leipzig, Berlin, Dresden, Postdam, Plauen, Karl-Marx-Stadt, Neubrandenburg, Griefswald, Halberstadt; in Dresden demands of free elections are put forth 26 October- first talks between New Forum and Communists demonstration in Dresden – 100,000 also in other cities 27 October- Amnesty declared for all arrested in recent protests first demand to set up Round table 30 October- “Democratic Breakthough” – people’s movement transformed into a party 3 November- authorities allow for people to leave via Czechoslovakia; in a week 40,000 leave GDR 4 November- largest demonstration in Alexanderplatz in Berlin 500-700,000 people demand freedom of speech and association; TV shows the demonstration 7 November- GDR government resigns; Politburo resigns; Krenz remains 8 November- New Forum registered as a political association 9 November - about 7 p.m. an announcement is made about the opening of border with FRG; tens of thousands cross the border 10 November - huge demonstration in West Berlin (Kohl, Genscher, Willy Brandt); beginning of tearing down of the Berlin Wall

12. 13 November- Hans Modrow becomes new P.M. of new government where SED holds majority further demonstrations 19 November- huge lines to collect 100 West German Mark welcome 21 November- Round Table proposal 22 November- SED agrees to Round Table 24 November- Green Party established 28 November- Bundestag debates on a possible union 1 December- parliament removes leading role of the Party from the constitution and apologises for Prague 1968 3 December - demonstrations; Politburo resigns 4 December- party coalition in GDR breaks up (CDU and LDPD resign from alliance with SED) 6 December- amnesty 7 December- Round Table 10 December- changes in SED – new name added – “The Party of Democratic Socialism” (SED-PDS) 18 December- Round Table declares the willingness to have a union of German states 19 December- Kohl takes part in a rally in GDR 31 December- 500,000 celebrate New Year at the Brandenburg Gate

13. German Democratic Republic 1989

15. Czechoslovakia 1960 Czechoslovakia is declared a Czechoslovak Socialist Republic under new constitution 1963 Slansky with other victims of Stalinist purges are rehabilitated 1968 January - Alexander Dubcek succeeds Novotny and introduces Prague Spring with the aim of ushering in "socialism with a human face„ 1968 August - Soviet-led Warsaw Pact troops invade. Dubcek taken to Moscow and forced to make concessions before returning to Prague to make an emotional plea for cooperation in ending the reforms 1969 April - Gustav Husak replaces Dubcek Party/state leader. 1975 Husak becomes president. 1977 A group of dissidents including Vaclav Havel publish Charter 77 calling for restoration of civil and political rights. 1987 Milos Jakes replaces Husak as party leader 6 November – the Polish-Czechoslovak Friends of Solidarity called to life 10 December – demonstration in Prague in defense of human rights crushed by secret police 1988 25 March – demonstrations in Bratislava in defense of human rights and the Church 21 August – demonstration in Prague commemorating 1968 (20-30 thousand) 4 September – Polish-Czechoslovak opposition activists meet October – Czechoslovak Helsinki Committee called to life 13 November – Alexander Dubcek received an honorary degree in Italy, the first time he is allowed abroad since his return from embassy in Turkey

16. 1989 January – Vaclav Havel and others arrested following a demonstration in favor of Jan Palach; in April Vaclav Havel is freed 28 October- Vaclav Havel with collaborators tries to make authorities open discussion (a manifesto entitled “A few sentences”) 16 November – student demonstration in Bratislava ends peacefully in spite of worries and doubts 17 November- huge legal student demonstration in Prague commemorating Jan Opletal (killed in 1939) is blocked by the police (at 19:30) and dispersed; about 150 injured; secret police agent Ludvík Zifčák is found motionless on the street – he was overcome by emotions 18 November- students at the University of Drama announce a strike and are joined by others from theatrical circles, as well as by the actors; fake news (Radio Free Europe) about student being killed the previous day leads to high emotions 19 November – numerous theaters and universities join the protest; at 22:00 Civic Forum called to life by Havel and members of Charter 77 – they demand the dismissal of officials responsible for violence 20 November- government officials give support to the Central Committee of the Czechoslovak Communist Party; strikes continue and turn into permanent protests demonstrations in Bratislava, Brno, Olomouc and other cities 100,000/150,000 crowd at the Vaclav Square in Prague demands democracy

17. 21 November - Civic Forum meets with PM, who guarantees there will be no violence, but refuses to discuss changes of socialism - almost all institutions of higher education go on strike 4 p.m. Vaclav Square fill with 200,000 strong crowd of protesters demands for resignation of the Communist party from government demands from Cardinal Tomaszek for meaningful change in relations between state and church 22 November- constant discussions at the square busses carrying People’s Militia arrive in Prague 4 p.m. demonstration in St. Vaclav’s Square draws more and more workers Presidium of the Central Committee issues a declaration “The National Front is ready to evaluate new projects and proposals...” Civic Forum is set up in Bratislava Civic Forum announces a two hour strike for 27th 23 November - the military announce readiness to act against opposition, yet the Minister of Defense announces on media, that the army will not be used against demonstrators 300,000 gather in Vaclav Square in Bratislava Alexander Dubcek addresses the crowd

18. 24 November - high tension in Prague Alexander Dubcek in Vaclav Square 7 p.m. First Secretary Milos Jakes resigns with the whole presidium; plenary session of the Party continues and Karel Urbanek (moderate) is named 1st secretary TV shows film from 17th November, as well as Havel’s address 25 November - 800,000/750,000 demonstration in Prague 100,000 demonstration in Bratislava lack of significant changes in the Party President Gustav Husak stops show trials and grants remission of sentence to 8 dissidents Vaclav Havel appears on TV for the first time 26 November - meeting of the Civic Forum with government (Havel with PM) Civic Forum issues a declaration “What do we want?” 27 November - general strike stops the country for 2 hours (75% of population back the strike) End of censorship – release of illegal publications in libraries Democratic Communist Forum is set up Green Party set up Afternoon rally in Vaclav Square

19. 29 November - National Assembly strikes the leading role of the Party out from the constitution – a symbol of the end of Communist 30 November - first contacts between Civic Forum and the Communist Party 1 December- demonstrations in Bratislava, while those in Czech part stop 2 December- “Rude Pravo” published an interview with Havel 3 December- minor changes in the government by Husak 4 December- Warsaw Pact members in Moscow declare that 1968 might have been a controversy in international law Czechoslovaks are allowed to leave the country and purchase hard currency 5 December- talks with the government (Havel) 6 December- Prime Minister unexpectedly announces dismissal on TV 9 December- agreement reached in the matter of membership of the government

20. 10 December- new government formed (including members of the Civic Forum) 11-12 December – artists end strike; students continue 17 December- student march to commemorate 17 November Vaclav Havel announces his run for presidency 19 December- 100,000 in Vaclav Square back Havel 23 December- Minister of Foreign Affairs of Czechoslovakia and Germany cut barbed wire on border 29 December- Havel elected president

21. Czechoslovakia 1989

31. Romania 1989 November - XIV Congress of the Party elects Ceauşescu to be secretary general for the sixth time 16-17 November – tension in Timişoara in defence of the Rev. Tökes 18 December - Ceauşescu with his wife fly off to Iran in Timişoara army refuses to shot at people and changes sides 19 December - PM Dascalescu undertakes negotiations while army withdraws 20 December - all factories in Timişoara go on strike; demonstrations spread to other towns 21 December - Ceauşescu with his wife return from Iran and call a demonstration against “working people against the louts of Timişoara”; demonstration turns against them; Ceauşescu introduces Martial Law 22 December - Ceauşescu and wife escape from Bucharest by helicopter - fight for power begins involving former regime men and some reformers 24 December - end of dictatorship announced 25 December - Ceauşescu with wife sentenced by a self-ordained court and executed - Front of National Defence under Iliescu and Roman take over government

33. Bulgaria 1988 16 January- Independent Association for the Defence of Human Rights formed 1989 February - “Podkrepa” modelled on Solidarity called to life May - demonstrations in several cities; militia enter 20 May - about 30 demonstrators killed by the military; Turkish dissidents deported Spring - Turks allowed to leave the country – about 300,000 leave 2 October - demonstrations in Sophia under the “protection” of international ecological conference October - dissidents and activists arrested 3 November- government backs and allows huge demonstration in Sophia (8,000) – first legal post-WWII demonstration 10 November- Zhivkov dismissed; minor changes in the Party follow 18 November- 100,000 in Sophia demand the abolishing of Party’s leading role; abolition of censorship, freedom of association 7 December- 13 opposition groups join to form Union of Democratic Forces led by Zeliu Zelev 8 December- Zhivkov expelled from the Party (with 26 other activists) 10 December – 100,000 in Sophia demand Round Table 12 December – another demonstration

34. 13 December – a 100,000 strong pro-Party demonstartion 15 December – demonstrations spread to other towns 1990 15 January- parliament removes Party’s leading role from the constitution 16 January- Round Table talks begin January - Zhivkov faces Tribunal