End Of Soviet Control In Eastern Europe and The End Of The Cold War

Question 1

End of soviet control in Europe

Answer 1

1989
Glasnost led to many in Eastern Europe publically criticising communism.
End of the Brezhnev Doctrine and reduction in Warsaw Pact troops led countries to remove communist leaders.
Free elections were held in Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia.
Gorbachev refused to help the East German government put down demonstrations.
In November, East Germany opened border and Berlin Wall began to come down.
In 1990, Germany reunited.

Question 2

End of Cold War

Answer 2

1989-91
In 1989, the Cold War ended with the Malta Summit.
Gorbachev and new president, George Bush, pledged to work for ‘long-lasting peace’.
In 1990, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia split from the USSR.
The end of communism in Europe led to the official end of the Warsaw Pact in 1991.
The Soviet military attempted a coup against Gorbachev, but failed.
On Christmas Day 1991, Gorbachev resigned and the USSR broke up.