Founding of the independent Polish union NSZZ "Solidarnosc" ("Solidarity"), which is officially registered and thus recognised. Within a short space of time, it gains some ten million members.
"Solidarity" marks the first time that the power monopoly of the Party has been broken in a communist state.
The independent union NSZZ "Solidarnosc" ("Solidarity") is founded in Poland in August/September 1980
War breaks out between Iran and Iraq (1st Gulf War). The war over the control of the border river Shatt al-Arab, an important oil-export route, leads to a new oil crisis with drastic price rises.
