On This Day in 1989, Poland Made the First Bold Moves Away From the Eastern Bloc & Communism

 

It was on this day in 1989 that Polish President Jaruzelski nominated Tadeusz Mazowiecki to be Prime Minister.

This was a significant move, as  Mazowiecki was a Solidarity activist and known Catholic. Now, he would officially become the Prime Minister. It was a clear move away from Communism, and it came months before the Berlin Wall came down. This new Polish government was the first non-communist government in the Soviet sphere of influence dating back to World War II. 

And it all took place without violence. Not a shot was fired. Simply, 38 million Polish people decided to move away from Soviet rule on their own, and out in the open.

Months later, the Berlin Wall fell. This was followed by pro-democratic movements in Czechoslovakia., Romania, and other countries. Eventually, the Soviet Union itself fell.  

Yet, it all started in Poland on this day in 1989.