ABSTRACT
This chapter centers on the formative period between the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the downfall of the Soviet Union two years later, during which time both superpowers' influence on European developments was diminishing. It considers how uncertainty about the fate of the Soviet state shaped contemporary perceptions and the calculations made by policymakers prior to the unification. The chapter also shows how the increasing probability of the Soviet Union's collapse during 1990 influenced policymakers' thoughts and actions. It highlights the historic significance of the accomplishments of both the Germans and their eastern neighbors, particularly in the removal of the barrier separating the two parts of Germany, the withdrawal of Soviet troops from their territories, and the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact. The chapter considers the long-term consequences of these developments for European security. The Polish defense doctrine presumed continued membership of the Warsaw Pact until a new European security structure would supersede both alliances.
