The Fall of Soviet Communism
Goodbye Khrushchev 1964 “I'm old and tired. Let them cope by themselves. I've done the main thing. Could anyone have dreamed of telling Stalin that he didn't suit us anymore and suggesting he retire? Not even a wet spot would have remained where we had been standing. Now everything is different. The fear is gone, and we can talk as equals. That's my contribution. I won't put up a fight.”
Brezhnev 64 - 82 Swing Right from Khrushchev domestically and in foreign policy Brezhnev Policy
“Prague Spring” (1968) Dissidents/playwrights arrested [like Vaclav Havel—future president of a free Czech Republic].
“Prague Spring” (1968) Former Czech President, Alexander Dubček Communism with a human face!
‘Prague Spring’—1968 Czechoslovakia ‘Dubcek began liberalization, assuring Soviets of loyalty Warsaw Pact troops, led by Soviets, brought Czechoslovakia back under total Soviet control Gustav Husak replaces Dubcek
1968 – A Year of Upheaval Prague Spring Student Protests in France West Berliner’s Protest US in ‘Nam Student protests in the US Mexico City – Students protest violent police
Brezhnev 64 - 82 Opened Communication with US! Détente! Red Phone SALT I & II Helsinki 1975
Chipping away… De Gaulle drops France out of NATO 1966 ‘3rd Force’ Mayor of West Berlin Willy Brandt (Social Democrats) Non Aggression w/ USSR 1970
Détente—1972 Nixon visited Brezhnev in Moscow for summit Strained, polite welcome Signed accords with Soviets SALT I Accords (Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty) Nixon and Brezhnev signed Limited nuclear weaponry
Détente—1975 Helsinki Pact US, Canada, and Europe Honored post WWII boundaries Agreed to further human rights
Détente—1979 SALT II Accord Carter met Brezhnev Further limited nuclear weapons
Brezhnev 64 - 82 Economic Stagnation Increased defense spending %40 %15 of GNP “…carried within it the seeds of its own destruction.”
Seeds of its own Destruction Group A: Heavy Industry Steel, Coal, Weapons, etc. Out paced US Group B: Soviet Consumer Goods Food, Clothing, housing, etc.
Europe 1980-88
Poland 1979—Pope John Paul II visited Warsaw Polish TV would only show altar John Paul’s visit helped produce, 14 months later, Solidarity movement
Poland Lech Walesa "The pope started this chain of events that led to the end of communism. Before his pontificate, the world was divided into blocs. Nobody knew how to get rid of communism. He simply said: ‘Don't be afraid, change the image of this land.’"
Poland Illegal strikes in Gdansk inspired by Solidarity Led by Lech Walesa Popular movement,achieved some goals
Poland Eventually martial law imposed and Walesa arrested With increased pressure and economic decline, Walesa released 1981, Time Man of the Year 1983, Nobel Peace Prize
Soviet Union In 1985 Gorbachev came to power Ends Brezhnev Doctrine Glasnost (openness) Perestroika (restructuring)
Soviet Union Gorbachev Chaos from: Challenged politically by Yeltsin Mixed comm./cap. economy Loss in Afghanistan Challenged politically by Yeltsin 1988—Fired Yeltsin as chief of Moscow's Communist Party
Soviet Union 1987—Reagan visited Berlin “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” 1988—Gorbachev announced withdrawal of Soviet troops from Eastern Europe
End of Cold War 1989
East Germany 1989—Refugees poured into W Germany: 225,000 from East Germany 300,000 from Russia and Poland October 18—Communist East German govt. fell
East Germany Bornholmer Strasse crossing point Midnight, November 9/10— New government opened border with West Germany
Down came the wall!
Fall of the Wall
End of Cold War 1991
Russia Revolts in Soviet republics as Communists lost power Gorbachev: Supported new, loosely-governed Soviet Union Denounced Communism
Russia Gorbachev ended Communist Party Independence was "won" by Latvia Lithuania Estonia Ukraine
Russia On Dec. 25: Yeltsin became President (1991- 1999) Gorbachev resigned New confederation of ex-Soviet republics created Yeltsin became President (1991- 1999)
Economic Aspects European Economic Unity European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) (1952) European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) (1957) European Economic Community (EEC/Common Market) (1957) European Community (EC) (1986) European Union (EU) (1992)
Germany West Germany (German Federal Republic) created (1949) East Germany (German Democratic Republic) created (1949)