1. The Fall of Soviet Communism

2. 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.”

3. Brezhnev
Swing Right from Khrushchev domestically and in foreign policy
Brezhnev Policy

4. “Prague Spring” (1968)
Dissidents/playwrights arrested [like Vaclav Havel—future president of a free Czech Republic].

5. “Prague Spring” (1968) Former Czech President, Alexander Dubček
Communism with a human face!

6. ‘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

7. 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

9. Brezhnev 64 - 82 Opened Communication with US! Détente! Red Phone
SALT I & II
Helsinki 1975

10. 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

11. 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

12. Détente—1975 Helsinki Pact US, Canada, and Europe
Honored post WWII boundaries
Agreed to further human rights

13. Détente—1979 SALT II Accord Carter met Brezhnev
Further limited nuclear weapons

14. Brezhnev 64 - 82 Economic Stagnation
Increased defense spending %40
%15 of GNP
“…carried within it the seeds of its own destruction.”

15. 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.

17. Europe

18. 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

19. 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.’" 

20. Poland Illegal strikes in Gdansk inspired by Solidarity
Led by Lech Walesa
Popular movement,achieved some goals

21. 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

22. Soviet Union In 1985 Gorbachev came to power Ends Brezhnev Doctrine
Glasnost (openness)
Perestroika (restructuring)

23. 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

24. Soviet Union 1987—Reagan visited Berlin
“Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”
1988—Gorbachev announced withdrawal of Soviet troops from Eastern Europe

25. End of Cold War
1989

26. 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

27. East Germany
Bornholmer Strasse crossing point
Midnight, November 9/10— New government opened border with West Germany

28. Down came the wall!

29. Fall of the Wall

31. End of Cold War
1991

32. Russia Revolts in Soviet republics as Communists lost power Gorbachev:
Supported new, loosely-governed Soviet Union
Denounced Communism

33. Russia Gorbachev ended Communist Party Independence was "won" by
Latvia
Lithuania
Estonia
Ukraine

34. Russia On Dec. 25: Yeltsin became President (1991- 1999)
Gorbachev resigned
New confederation of ex-Soviet republics created
Yeltsin became President ( )

35. 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)

36. Germany West Germany (German Federal Republic) created (1949)
East Germany (German Democratic Republic) created (1949)