To the editor:

David Shribman, in his article: “Berlin Wall Anniversary cause for reflection” (Journal-World, May 17) points to the cutting of the barbed wire between Hungary and Austria in May 1989, as the beginning of the fall of the Berlin Wall (November 1989).

In fact, the real beginning of this fall took place in the Polish parliamentary elections of June 4, 1989. On that day, contrary to the Round Table Agreement between the ruling communists (called the Polish United Workers’ Party) and the leaders of Solidarity mandating a built-in communist majority in the lower house, voters crossed out communist candidates everywhere and voted for Solidarity candidates.

This was far more important than the wire-cutting mentioned above, or the Polish communists’ decision to legalize Solidarity. In fact, the June 4 elections in Poland marked the first, resounding communist defeat in Central and Eastern Europe. It was followed by communist defeat in Hungary, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the collapse of communism in the rest of the former Soviet bloc.

The Poles succeeded not only because Solidarity had the support of millions, but also because Soviet President, Mikhail Gorbachev, decided not to use force in Poland. He feared this would both strengthen his hard-line opponents in Moscow and jeopardize his good relations with the United States, led by President George H.W. Bush. Indeed, Bush played an important role in the changes taking place by supporting Gorbachev’s reform policies in the USSR and counseling moderation to the leaders of the Polish and Hungarian opposition movements in 1989.