Translated and annotated versions of many of these documents may be found in CWIHP Special Working Paper No 1 Soviet Deliberations during the Polish Crisis, 1980-1981 (April 1999).

1980

25 August 1980*, Pb 210/11 [9.4] – Politburo about situation in Poland. Setting up a special Politburo commission on the Poland crisis. [R 25 August 1980, Pb 210-11]

3 September 1980*, Pb 213/38 [9.4] –Theses critical of the recent Gdansk Agreements to be used at a meeting with Polish leadership. [R 3 September 1980, Pb 213/38] total 7 pp.

4 October 1980*, St 231/5 [1.1; 9.4] – Action plan for methods of propaganda and counter-propaganda in relation to the Polish situation. [R 4 October 1980, St 231-5] total 6 pp.

29 October 1980* (Pb) [9.4] – Politburo meeting. Highly critical discussion of the situation in Poland on eve of a “friendly visit” to Moscow by a Polish party and government delegation. [R 29 oct 80, pb] total 4 pp.

28 November 1980, St 239/36 [9.4] –Secretariat of the Central Committee. Temporary limits on tourist exchanges between USSR and Poland. [R 28 November 1980, St 239/36] total 8 pp.

1 December 1980*, St 240/37 [5; 9.4] –Secretariat of the Central Committee. An answer to the leaders of Italian Communist Party (PCI) about the situation in Poland (2 pp). [R 1 December 1980, St 240/37] total 2 pp. (tbt)

22 December 1980, St 242/61 [1.2; 9.4] –Secretariat of the Central Committee. Control over distribution of Polish press in the USSR. [R 22 December 1980, St 242-61] total 28 pp.

1981

January to June

14 January 1981*, St 246/1 [9.4] –Secretariat of the Central Committee. Directions to the Soviet ambassador in Italy regarding Lech WALESA’s visit to the country. [R 14 January 1981, St 246-1] total 12 pp.

15 January 1981, St 246/17 [1.2; 9.4] – Secretariat. Setting up a Novosti bureau in Gdansk and appoint KGB officer as deputy director. [R //missing?] total 3 pp.

19 January 1981, St 246/79 [9.4] – Secretariat. About economic reform in Poland. [R 19 January 1981, St 246-79] total 3 pp.

22 January 1981* (Pb §8) [9.4] – Politburo meeting. Visit of Soviet Party leaders to Poland. [R 22 January 1981, Politburo, para 8] total 5 pp.

12 March 1981* (Pb) [9.4] – Politburo meeting. Results of discussions between BREZHNEV and CASTRO, and BREZHNEV and HONECKER. [R 12 March 1981, Politburo] total 3 pp.

26 March 1981* (Pb §5) [9.4] –Politburo meeting. Arkhipov reports on the cost of supplying Poland with oil, gas, iron ore and the problems of the Polish economy. [R 26 March 1981, Politburo, para 5] total 2 pp.

2 April 1981* (Pb) [9.4] – Politburo meeting. The situation in Poland; future meeting between ANDROPOV, KANIA and JARUZELSKI; economic reforms and martial law. [R 2 April 1981, Politburo ] total 7 pp.

9 April 1981* (Pb §3) [9.4] – Politburo meeting. Report on results of a meeting between ANDROPOV and USTINOV with representatives (KANIA and JARUZELSKI) of the Polish government and Party. [R 9 April 1981, Politburo, para 3] total 8 pp.

16 April 1981* (Pb §2) [9.4] – Politburo meeting. Telephone conversation between BREZHNEV and KANIA. [R 16 April 1981, Politburo, para 2] total 2 pp.

23 April 1981*, Pb 7/VII [9.4] – The situation in Poland as analysed by the Politburo commission and certain Soviet measures in response; Action plan to aid Polish United Workers’ Party. [R 23 April 1981, Pb 7-VII] total 11 pp.

30 April 1981* (Pb §2) [9.4] – Politburo meeting. Results of a meeting between Soviet and Polish delegations. [R 30 April 1981, Politburo, para 2] total 3 pp.

18 June 1981 (Pb) [9.4] –Politburo meeting. Presentation to BREZHNEV on preparation for the meeting with the leadership of the Polish United Workers’ Party. [R not available online]

July to December

10 September 1981* (Pb §3) [9.4] – Politburo meeting. Response to Congress of Solidarity in Poland. [R 10 September 1981, Politburo, para 3] total 3 pp.

17 September 1981* (Pb §§1 & 8) [9.4] –Politburo meeting. Telegram from Soviet Ambassador in Berlin about HONECKER’s reaction to the outcome of discussions with KANIA. [R 17 September 1981, Politburo, paras 1 & 8] total 2 pp.

19 October 1981*, Pb 1942 [9.4] –Central Committee. BREZHNEV’s telephone conversation with the new Polish party leader JARUZELSKI. [R 19 October 1981, Pb 1942] total 5 pp.

29 October 1981* (Pb §2) [9.4] –Politburo meeting. RUSAKOV’s report on his visit to the GDR, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria and Hungary to discuss the situation in Poland; Politburo concern at JARUZELSKI’s inactivity. [R 29 October 1981, Politburo, para 2] total 6 pp.

21 November 1981, P37/21 [9.4] –Politburo decision. Visit by Polish government delegation to USSR and a verbal message from BREZHNEV to JARUZELSKI. [R 21 November 1981, Pb 37-21] total 6 pp.

10 December 1981* (Pb §1) [9.4] –Politburo meeting, three days before introduction of martial law in Poland (11 pp). [R 10 December 1981, Politburo, para 1]

13 December 1981*, Pb 40/26 [5; 9.4] – Politburo decision. Information about Poland after introduction of martial law to be sent to the leaders of Socialist countries. [R 13 dec 81, pb 40-26] total 3 pp.

1982

14 January 1982* (Pb §§2-3) [9.4] – Politburo meeting. Poland’s continuing problems; requests for economic assistance. [R 14 January 1982, Politburo, para 2] total 5 pp.

15 January 1982, St 246/17 [1.2; 9.4] – Secretariat. Establishing press-corps for a Soviet bureau of the Novosti agency in Poland (Gdansk) and appointment of a KGB agent as its chief. [R 15 January 1982, St 246-17] total 3 pp.

7 March 1982 [DY 30-JIV] [5; 9.4] – GDR archives. Information to the leaders of Socialist countries during an official visit of Polish government delegation and JARUZELSKI to Moscow. Document provided by Tomasz Mianowicz; source, GDR archives [R 7 March 1982, [DY 30-JIV]] total 9 pp.

23 September 1982* (no number) [9.4] – Soviet financial aid to Poland. Credits, $690 million; grant, $450 million, and permission to delay payments to value of $1,790 million. [R 23 September 1982] total 2 pp.

1984

25 April 1984, (Pb) [9.4] –Politburo. Information sent to leaders of East European countries with regard to JARUZELSKI’s visit. [R 25 Apr 84, Pb, paras 7 & 8] total 8 pp.

1992

July 1992* (no number) [9.4] – Presidential Archive. List of eight documents reflecting Politburo discussion and action in relation to Poland, between August 1980 and September 1982. [R Jul 92]