Government (Dubçek) of Czechoslovakia wanted a reform-oriented course. --> ''Socialism with a human face''. He strove for a democratic and more liberal type of communism.
He got no space from Russia. At the end of August, troops of the Warsaw Pact put an end to this.
Slide 8 - Tekstslide
Slide 9 - Video
The Cold War becomes less cold
Second half of the 80s
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Why?
Reagan is reelected S US president in 1984: he can be a little bit kinder to the Soviet Union now
new leader for the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, wants to do it differently.
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Problems in the Soviet-Union
The nuclear arms race costs a lot of money.
The treasury becomes emptier still when the country ends up involved in a hopeless civil war in neighbouring Afghanistan.
The communist economy has ground to a halt.
Slide 12 - Tekstslide
Mikhail Gorbachev
Glasnost: openness
Perestrojka: economic reforms
Cutting back on military activities: fewer weapons, fewer soldiers.
So also fewer Soviet soldiers outside the Soviet Union
Remember this: as far as Gorbachev is concerned, the arms race is over. In any case, the Soviet Union is no longer involved.
Slide 13 - Tekstslide
Consequences
Gorbachev wants to have a better relationship with Western countries
Several important meetings happen between Reagan and the Gorbachev
Unilateral disarmament of the Soviet Union
Withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan
Remember this: Gorbachev wants his ideas to be implemented in other communist countries in Eastern Europe. These countries do not want, cannot and do not dare to do this.
Slide 14 - Tekstslide
Video
Reagan's Speech in West Berlin, June 1987
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Slide 16 - Video
Revolution Year 1989
The Fall of Communism in Eastern Europe
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Causes
Gorbachev's ideas (glasnost, perestroika)...
...clash with the old, ingrained, ideas of the Eastern European leaders...
...but are popular with the people of those countries!
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Hungary opens its border with Austria
May 1989
Many other inhabitants of Eastern European countries
flee to the West via Hungary.
This Eastern European leader does understand the ideas of Glasnost and Perestroika: he wants to give his people more freedom.
Slide 19 - Tekstslide
Fall of the Berlin Wall
November 9 1989
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What is happening?
The people of East Berlin and Eastern Germany want more freedom and they want to open the border
... but the Eastern German government absolutely does not want this!
Massive anti-government demonstrations in East Berlin
Also during the 40th anniversary celebration of the DDR, in October 1989
Slide 21 - Tekstslide
Gorbachev is the guest of honor...
...he does not come to celebrate, but to warn the leaders of Eastern Germany: the Soviet Union is no longer going to help when it comes to ending demonstrations.
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Every evening there are demonstrations in Berlin
The pressure on the Eastern German government increases,
while the world press looks at the situation in East Berlin
Slide 23 - Tekstslide
Slide 24 - Tekstslide
Slide 25 - Tekstslide
Video
A look at the fall
of The Berlin Wall
Slide 26 - Tekstslide
Slide 27 - Video
Then it goes fast...
Slide 28 - Tekstslide
Total collapse
of communism in Eastern Europe
November 6, 1989: Communist leader of Bulgaria is deposed.
November 28, 1989: The Czechoslovakian Communist Party relinquishes its power
December 25, 1989: The Romanian communist leader is executed
April 1990: Free elections in parts of Yugoslavia
Slide 29 - Tekstslide
Germany Reunited
October 3rd 1990
Slide 30 - Tekstslide
End of the Soviet-Union
December 25 1991
Slide 31 - Tekstslide
Happy ever after?
No, big and small problems arise in some parts of the former Eastern block.
Economic disadvantage of 'East Germans' compared to 'West Germans'
Some, not just people from Eastern Germany, had to get used to capitalism (about 65% thought communism was better)
Lesduur is: 45 min
