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The defeat of communism in the Soviet Union really began in the Eastern European “satellite” countries of communism, initially in Poland and Hungary.  In 1978, the Roman Catholic Church elected the first non-Italian pope in many centuries, elevating a Polish cardinal who had been active in the anticommunist movement in his homeland of Poland.  Pope John Paul II then became a leader and hero to his countrymen in Poland, which is nearly 100% Catholic.  Another Polish leader, Lech Walesa, led a strike against a shipyard in Gdansk in 1980, demanding government recognition for his labor union called Solidarity.  The Polish communist government was weak at this time and vacillated in its response, but in 1981 it cracked down on Solidarity and imposed marital law throughout the country.  A popular anticommunist priest was then murdered.  An assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II, also thought to have been organized by communists, injured but did not kill him.

The defeat of communism in the Soviet Union really began in the Eastern European “satellite” countries of communism, initially in Poland and Hungary.  In 1978, the Roman Catholic Church elected the first non-Italian pope in many centuries, elevating a Polish cardinal who had been active in the anticommunist movement in his homeland of Poland.  Pope John Paul II then became a leader and hero to his countrymen in Poland, which is nearly 100% Catholic.  Another Polish leader, Lech Walesa, led a strike against a shipyard in Gdansk in 1980, demanding government recognition for his labor union called Solidarity.  The Polish communist government was weak at this time and vacillated in its response, but in 1981 it cracked down on Solidarity and imposed marital law throughout the country.  A popular anticommunist priest was then murdered.  An assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II, also thought to have been organized by communists, injured but did not kill him.

As conflict worsened in Poland, Pope John Paul II visited the country and attracted literally millions of supporters.  At one point he stood on the podium with the communist-installed leader and lectured him about respecting the dignity and freedom of the Polish people.  The communist leader trembled in front of the huge crowd.  When the Soviet Union threatened to crack down on the Polish people, the Pope declared that he would respond by returning to Poland to fight on the front lines against the communists.

As conflict worsened in Poland, Pope John Paul II visited the country and attracted literally millions of supporters.  At one point, he stood at the podium with the communist-installed leader and lectured him about respecting the dignity and freedom of the Polish people.  The communist leader trembled in front of the huge crowd.  When the Soviet Union threatened to crack down on the Polish people, the Pope declared that he would respond by returning to Poland to fight on the front lines against the communists.

In April 1989 the Polish government allowed free elections for the first time World War II, and the people elected Lech Walesa as president and his group Solidarity swept into office.  Communism was defeated.  Walesa remained in power until 1995 and may have been a bit overwhelmed by all the political issues.  He was then replaced by a former communist, Aleksander Kwasniewski, who favored some free enterprise.  The fall of communism in Poland enabled passage of laws prohibiting abortion.  Abortion rates in the communist Soviet Union had been several times higher than the rest of the world.

In April 1989, the Polish government allowed free elections for the first time World War II, and the people elected Lech Walesa as president and his group Solidarity swept into office.  Communism was defeated.  Walesa remained in power until 1995 and may have been a bit overwhelmed by all the political issues.  He was then replaced by a former communist, Aleksander Kwasniewski, who favored some free enterprise.  The fall of communism in Poland enabled passage of laws prohibiting abortion.  Abortion rates in the communist Soviet Union had been several times higher than the rest of the world.

   

   

Hungary, the same country that attempted to overthrow communism in 1956, immediately followed Poland’s lead.  In October 1989, opponents of the Communist Party took it over and dissolved it.  A new constitution allowed for national elections in 1990, and the people defeated the communists in power.  Hungary embraced some free enterprise and started a stock market.  But like much of Eastern Europe, socialists remained powerful and in 1994 they crept back into power and raised taxes.  Today Hungary is a mixture of socialism and free enterprise.

Hungary, the same country that attempted to overthrow communism in 1956, immediately followed Poland’s lead.  In October 1989, opponents of the Communist Party took it over and dissolved it.  A new constitution allowed for national elections in 1990, and the people defeated the communists in power.  Hungary embraced some free enterprise and started a stock market.  But like much of Eastern Europe, socialists remained powerful and in 1994 they crept back into power and raised taxes.  Today Hungary is a mixture of socialism and free enterprise.

Other Eastern European countries then wanted the same freedom from communism.  In Czechoslovakia, demonstrations forced the Communist Party leader Milos Jakes to resign in November 1989, and he was replaced by Vaclav Havel.  In 1993, the country split along ethnic lines to form Slovakia and the Czech Republic, caused in part by economic difficulties in the conversion from communism to free enterprise.

Other Eastern European countries then wanted the same freedom from communism.  In Czechoslovakia, demonstrations forced the Communist Party leader Milos Jakes to resign in November 1989, and he was replaced by Vaclav Havel.  In 1993, the country split along ethnic lines to form Slovakia and the Czech Republic, caused in part by economic difficulties in the conversion from communism to free enterprise.

Next came Romania, which had been ruled for decades by the communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu.  Massive demonstrations against his rule in December 1989 caused the army to join the people and they captured Ceausescu as he attempted to flee with his wife.  They were executed on Christmas Day.  Free elections were beginning in 1990.

Next came Romania, which had been ruled for decades by the communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu.  Massive demonstrations against his rule in December 1989 caused the army to join the people, and they captured Ceausescu as he attempted to flee with his wife.  They were executed on Christmas Day.  Free elections were beginning in 1990.

Not all the changes in these countries were for the better.  Ceausescu, for example, prohibited abortion for decades in Romania.  As a result, Romanians had the lowest incidence of breast cancer in the Western world, far lower than the United States.  But after he was overthrown, Romania began promoting abortion and breast cancer subsequently skyrocketed.  In 1990, American families rushed to Romania to adopt babies while they were still available.

However, not all the changes in these countries were for the better.  Ceausescu, for example, prohibited abortion for decades in Romania.  As a result, Romanians had the lowest incidence of breast cancer in the Western world, far lower than the United States.  But after he was overthrown, Romania began promoting abortion and breast cancer subsequently skyrocketed.  In 1990, American families rushed to Romania to adopt babies while they were still available.

The collapse of the communist dictatorship exposed underlying ethnic and religious conflict, particularly in Yugoslavia.  Its dictator Marshall Tito (real name Josip Broz) ruled with an iron fist from 1945 to 1980, and the different ethnic groups could not fight each other as he suppressed all conflict.  He also insisted on some independence from the Soviet Union, and Stalin expelled him from the Soviet bloc in 1948.  Tito was succeeded in power by the Serb Slobodan Milosevic, which caused Slovenia and Croatia to seek independence due to their different ethnicity.  In June 1991 the Yugoslavian army attempted to suppress these independence movements.  It succeeded with Croatia, which has a large Serbian minority, but the Slovenians ousted the Serbs and achieved independence.

The collapse of the communist dictatorship exposed underlying ethnic and religious conflict, particularly in Yugoslavia.  Its dictator, Marshall Tito, (real name Josip Broz) ruled with an iron fist from 1945 to 1980, and the different ethnic groups could not fight each other as he suppressed all conflict.  He also insisted on some independence from the Soviet Union, and Stalin expelled him from the Soviet bloc in 1948.  Tito was succeeded in power by the Serb Slobodan Milosevic, which caused Slovenia and Croatia to seek independence due to their different ethnicity.  In June 1991, the Yugoslavian army attempted to suppress these independence movements.  It succeeded with Croatia, which has a large Serbian minority, but the Slovenians ousted the Serbs and achieved independence.

Bloodshed continued in Croatia as the Serbs battled the Croats.  Eventually the United States and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) intervened in 1999 in what is known as the Kosovo War or Kosovo Conflict, driving Milosevic from power and forcing his trial by an international tribunal.  He died of natural causes during a lengthy war crimes trial.

Bloodshed continued in Croatia as the Serbs battled the Croats.  Eventually, the United States and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) intervened in 1999 in what is known as the Kosovo War or Kosovo Conflict, driving Milosevic from power and forcing his trial by an international tribunal.  He died of natural causes during a lengthy war crimes trial.

Ethnic conflict was even worse in Bosnia-Herzegovina, which consists of Muslims, Croats and Serbs, who are Christian.  Bosnia-Herzegovina first declared its independence from Serbia, but the Christian Bosnian Serbs did not want to live under Muslim rule and a civil war began in March 1992 over whether Bosnia would split from Serbia.  Anti-Christian press accused the Serbs of “ethnic cleansing,” or racially motivated mass murders, as the Serbs were allegedly killing off Bosnian Muslims.  A peacekeeping army was sent by the United Nations, and in December 1995 the Muslims, Croats and Serbs signed a peace treaty.  In 1996 a three-person presidency including a leader from each group was elected.

Ethnic conflict was even worse in Bosnia-Herzegovina, which consists of Muslims, Croats and Serbs, who are Christian.  Bosnia-Herzegovina first declared its independence from Serbia, but the Christian Bosnian Serbs did not want to live under Muslim rule and a civil war began in March 1992 over whether Bosnia would split from Serbia.  Anti-Christian press accused the Serbs of “ethnic cleansing,” or racially motivated mass murders, as the Serbs were allegedly killing off Bosnian Muslims.  A peacekeeping army was sent by the United Nations, and, in December 1995, the Muslims, Croats and Serbs signed a peace treaty.  In 1996 a three-person presidency including a leader from each group was elected.

=== G. Controversy of the United Nations Troops ===

=== G. Controversy of the United Nations Troops ===