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.more
20 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.