CW45+Collapse+of+Communism

= Collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe and the USSR =

The collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe came quickly and mostly peacefully. The inherent weakness of the Soviet bloc was shown by the Soviet Union’s need to use force to maintain Communist governments in Eastern Europe (1956 in Hungary; 1968 in Czechoslovakia) and to build a wall to keep people from fleeing Communism. The collapse resulted from Gorbachev’s policies which allowed open discussion of problems (Glasnost) and democratic reforms. Finally, his renunciation of the Brezhnev Doctrine gave the green light to people to demand greater freedom.


 * [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/52/Thefalloftheberlinwall1989.JPG/220px-Thefalloftheberlinwall1989.JPG width="242" height="182" align="right" caption="Berliners on top of the wall"]]1989**
 * 26 March - partially free elections in Soviet Union - non-Communist members elected to Congress of People’s Deputies.
 * 2 May - Hungary began dismantling barrier with the West.
 * 4 June - elections in Poland bring a Solidarity government to power.
 * 6/7 October Gorbachev visited East Berlin for 40th Anniversary celebrations of the country. Reiterates his renunciation of use of force to protect Communist governments.
 * October - Czechoslovakia allowed East Germans to go to the West rather than be repatriated.
 * October - Erich Honecker removed from power in East Germany. Replaced by Egon Krenz.
 * 9 November - Berlin Wall opened and later dismantled completely.


 * 1990**
 * 3 October Germany reunified.
 * 21 November - Charter of Paris signed by USA, USSR and 30 other countries - included non-aggression pact between NATO and Warsaw Pact.


 * 1991**
 * 1991 - USSR supported US-led coalition against Iraq in first Gulf War.
 * Baltic States seceded in early 1991.
 * 12 June - Boris Yeltsin elected president of Russian Republic (RSFSR) - this was new position.
 * 1 July 1991 - end of the Warsaw Pact.
 * 19-21 August 1991 - Attempted coup by Communist hardliners while Gorbachev was on holiday in Crimea. Aim: to stop reform and restore control of the Communist Party. Gorbachev was placed under house arrest. The coup sparked a mass protest of people on the streets of Moscow. Boris Yeltsin took a leading role in the anti-coup protests. The coup failed when they lost support of the military. Result: Gorbachev’s authority was terminally weakened; Yeltsin’s authority was increased.
 * Ukraine declared independence after August 1991 coup.
 * 8 December 1991 - formation of CIS.
 * 25 December 1991 - Gorbachev resigned as President of USSR.
 * Soviet Union ceased to exist 31 December 1991.