1. The Iron Curtain 1946

2. Hungarian Uprising 1956

3. Hungarian Uprising 1956

4. Hungarian Refugees

5. Czechoslovakia Prague Spring 1968

6. Czechoslovakia Prague Spring 1968

7. Czechoslovakia Prague Spring 1968

8. Solidarity [Poland]
1980 strike at Gdańsk Shipyard, birthplace of Solidarity

9. Lech Wałęsa & Solidarity

10. Lech Wałęsa & Solidarity

11. Solidarity
December 14, The symbolism of the jackboot and bayonet is inherently so powerful they need little explanation. This cartoon represents the efforts of governmental authorities in Poland to crush the Solidarity labor movement. In December 1981, the economy was deteriorating rapidly, and a confrontation between the Communist government and union was inevitable. Ten months after declaring martial law, the government formally outlawed the labor organization. It ended the state of emergency ended and six years later signed an agreement once again legalizing Solidarity. In 1990 Solidarity leader Lech Walesa was elected President of Poland.

12. Poland Pope John Paul II

13. Pope John Paul II & Lech Walesa

14. The Fall of Communism

15. Mikhail Gorbachev

16. Chernobyl (April 26, 1986)
                                    
Map of radiation levels in 1996 around Chernobyl.

17. Reasons for Collapse of Communism and the Soviet Union
The Economy

18. Weakness of the command Economy
Shortages

19. Weakness of the command Economy
Shortages
Shoddy goods

20. Weakness of the command Economy
Shortages
Shoddy goods
Shoddy Cars

21. Weakness of the command Economy
Shortages
Shoddy goods
Shoddy Cars
Shoddy Housing

22. Weakness of the command Economy
Shortages
Shoddy goods
Shoddy Cars
Shoddy Housing
And why is everything shoddy?

23. Weakness of the command Economy
Shortages
Shoddy goods
Shoddy Cars
Shoddy Housing
Inflation

24. Attempts to improve the economy
Perestroika (restructuring)

25. Attempts to improve the economy
Perestroika (restructuring)
Glasnost (open-ness)

26. Reasons for Collapse of Communism and the Soviet Union
The Economy
The burden of military commitments

27. The burden of military commitments
Soviet Afghan War

28. The burden of military commitments
Soviet Afghan War