Collapse Of Communism Flashcards
What happened in May 1989?
Hungarians begin dismantling the barbed-wire fence between Hungary and non-communist Austria
What happened in June 1989?
Free elections held in Poland. Solidarity wins in a landslide. Walesa is made President.
What happened in September 1989?
Thousands of East Germans on holiday in Hungary and Czechoslovakia escape into Austria and from there into West Germany
What happened in October 1989?
Gorbachev is met by huge demonstrations in East Germany. Tells Honecker to reform. Honecker orders troops to fire on demonstrators but they refuse to obey. Gorbachev makes it plain that there will be no Soviet intervention.
What happened in November 1989 in East Germany?
East Germans march in thousands to the Berlin Wall. Guards abandon weapons and join the demonstrators. The Wall is torn down.
What happened in November 1989 in Czechoslovakia?
Demonstrations in Czechoslovakia. Borders opened with the West and formation of other parties legalised.
What happened in December 1989?
- Short but violent revolution in Romania leads to execution of communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. Hungarian Communist Party renames itself the Socialist Party and declares that free elections will be held in 1990.
- Huge anti-government demonstrations in Bulgaria.
What happened in March 1990?
Latvia declares independence from the USSR
What is people power?
Western media came up with this phrase to show that communist control was toppled because ordinary people were unwilling to accept it any longer.
Who was the chancellor of West Germany at the time?
Helmut Kohl
What did Helmut Kohl propose?
Reunification of Germany - it was favourably received
What did Gorbachev fear about the reunification of Germany?
It would be friendlier to the West, but after months of negotiations accepted this.
What did Gorbachev also allow Germany to do?
Join NATO
When did Germany reunify?
3rd October 1990
