World Civilizations The Fall of Communism in Eastern Europe

The fall of communism in Eastern Europe Location Early signs of When and how Key figures Bloody or Significance rebellion/conflict did communism involved peaceful (what was the between 1945-1985 collapse? process? impact of the revolution? Did it impact other surrounding countries?) East Germany - East German - Around 1990- - Erich -Mostly peaceful -The falling of Uprising of 1953- 1991 Honecker was process with the Berlin Wall Workers protesting - Fall of the forced to resign some retaliation and the end of government Berlin Wall so that East by the Communism in demands. Millions - Reunification of Germany could government. East Germany riot but Soviet West and East reform - Fall of Berlin really signified (suggested by Wall was that Communism Gorbachev) described as a stood no chance “peaceful in Eastern collapse” Europe. troops stopped them Germany - Changes in government - - On November 9, -Egon Krenz, - In Leipzig in -It happened the border guards leader of East 1989, there was a before the Malta finally let the Germany after demonstration Conference people through to Honecker, that the Police between Bush the other side, and uninfluential fought off with and Gorbachev the giant crowds leader who had great violence, which set the made their way to end including tone that in. Communism to scattering the communism was stop protests demonstrators ending with shields and helmets It became much - multiple easier for people revolutions to travel When the Berlin wall was taken down East Germans flocked the border in huge numbers Hungary -Revolution in 1956 - 1989 It was both Helped East shut down by USSR - Soviet forces left (Leader of Violent and Germans escape - against Soviet peaceful. into West Hungary -Imre Pozsgay reforms in the hardliner policies - Took down communist Although some Germany. -1960s border between party and demonstrations The Hungarian experimented with Austria helped remove ended up in Revolution free-market reforms - Officially -1985 first multi- the iron curtain) bloodshed others became a socialist - Karoly Grosz (1956), victims were not violent honored for at all. contributions to party elections were party on October (helped create held - huge step 7th reforms and towards democracy -October 23rd supported a The revolution of -The revolution of changed its name more socialist 1956 was The taking down 1956, made to the Republic of country) violent, but in of the iron Hungary socialist Hungary -In 1989, the 1989 when they Curtain impacted Hungarians were free of other countries, not communist, it fight. showed the soviets Group of proposed free communism, allowing people that they did not Hungarian multi-party there was no to travel there. want to be opposition parties: elections to oppressed National Gorbachev. Roundtable conflict. Hungary took down part of the -He did not barbed wire on agree with this, their border with but he didn’t do Austria anything to stop symbolizing it. getting closer to the end of the -Hungary Cold War started to slowly get rid Hungary allowed of Socialism as East German they began to refugees into allow other their country political parties into play Poland Some early signs of - The last soviet - Wojciech - The public Poland’s rebellion in Poland troops left Poland Jaruzelski, was began with revolution was occurred when the in 1993 shortly the communist peaceful protests, significant trade union fought after the Warsaw Polish leader regarding the because they for solidarity and a pact was during this era trade union and were mainly free economy. dismembered (80’s). against fighting for communist rights in the regimes. economy and - Opposition - Following the - Lech Walesa, political parties signing of a treaty began the first were formed - between the stage of - Non violent Poland’s revolt Solidarity government and negotiations solidarity strikes sparked ideas in the people, free towards were initiated Hungary, and elections began reforms. leading to formal they were negotiations liberated shortly solidarity. Also, after. -Following -General - These pressure from the Czeslaw roundtable newly created Kisczak, also negotiations lead Senate, a worked with to the signing of solidarity Walesa to start the Roundtable government was the roundtable Accords, all formed negotiations without any Communism with opposition significant deaths collapsed in June groups. 1989, Solidarity, a - Tadeusz labor union was Mazowiecki formed which led started the new to the fall of multi party communism. democratic solidarity government -Pope John Paul II, helped spread influence and gave hope to the people Czechoslovakia - 1968 - 1989 Vaclav Havel Violent Czechoslovakia’ Communists - Communist - newly elected - Many people s revolution set followed policy of leaders give up leader (anti- were thrown in an example as repression to power communist) jail or beaten in did many Anti- maintain power - protesters (Gustav Husák January 1989 communist - 1977 peacefully (communist) Charter 77 was demonstrate in Peaceful Eastern Europe formed to protest ways such as - 1989, there was that contributed against violations of jangling their a series of to the weakening human rights keys before a peaceful protests of the Iron government that led to Curtain. building. democratic Prague spring January-august 1968 -Prague Spring movements in power being Negative effect: elected breakup of crushed- came Czechoslovakia. Mass protest of back with a bigger The velvet communism rebellion revolution was Positive: anti- New ruler (Gustav -Charter 77 MOSTLY a communist and Husak) was formed; human non-violent had more appointed after this rights transition of reforms and brought demonstrations power, however Czechoslovakia for political there are minor back to communism freedoms violent elements. - government after collapsed Havel took power Romania - Nicolae had 16-25 December Nicolae Bloody and There were created many new 1989 Ceaușescu violent. political changes economic policies Communism (communist) that were not collapsed due to a popular with the country wide Elena citizens protest for the (Nioclae’s Transition to a - Money was being eviction of the wife) democracy wrongly stolen to dictator turned pay off debt into bloody battle Ion Iliescu (the Salvation Front -There was a and the dictator first elected took power led revolution of was eventually president) by Ion Lliescu romania which only killed. who became lasted 9 days Communism fell president in May -After the in Romania 1990 revolution a during revolutions political party that from December supported 16, 1989- democracy took December 25, over called the FSN 1989 and economic The leader was reforms after. executed. National led by Ion Iliescu. Bulgaria - Zhivkov was a - November 1989 Todor Zhivkov: Bulgarians brutal leader The end of the mostly used a communist Citizens were communist ruler communist less violent regime led to unhappy how the Todor Zhivkov leader approach when it substantially leader treated was removed came to protests. increased people with from power, different opinions following the This freedoms in 1989 revolutions counteracted media and Protests lead to the Zhivkov’s own society as a removal of the violent actions. whole. Petar Mladenov liberties. Among leader of the Bulgarian Bulgarian government held Communist Party free elections. Todor Zhivkov. Bulgaria became the first country to become free of Communism after the fall of the Berlin Wall, marking a significant start of a reversed Domino theory Albania - In 1961, Albania Albania saw how Ramiz Alia There were Led to peaceful allied itself with communism fell -Opposition violent rebellions elections and a China, after in eastern Europe newspapers but the UN had democracy in diplomatic relations 1989 which were published sent troops to Albania. It broke with the caused them to against the prevent as much helped Albania's Soviet Union. become politically communists. violence as economy and - Albania withdraws active. Alia (the -Protests at possible. gave them a from the Warsaw leader) created economic Building up to a higher status in pact after a Soviet independent conditions and democracy there the EU. led invasion of political parties killing of was not as much Czechoslovakia. after making other opposition moves to lead demonstrators The death of Enver Albania to broke out Hoxha in addition democracy. to the years of Ramiz Alia oppression by the On Dec. 11, 1990, made multiple government led to communism reforms to the people collapsed in Albania under violence. The Revolution brought elections Peaceful protests to Albania, and by students even though the started the fall of communist party communism kept control during the first Peaceful protests round, it overall protesting against Albania. The communism became violent, communism Central and Sali had peaceful Committee of the Berisha, after results Communist Party the resignation ultimately. allowed political of Alia became pluralism after the first years of protests deomocratic and ruler of demonstrations. Albania. Yugoslavia Pre-Dissolution ● Developed “socialist self-management” ○ Unique economic system ○ Created after Soviets forbade the accepting of American financial aid ● Yugoslavia represented a “third way” ○ Medium between Western capitalism and Soviet communism ○ Standards of life improved since adopting mix of policies ● 1980, Josip Broz Tito died ○ Ethnic and political instability ensued ○ Peace ended, conflicts emerged ● 1989, Slobodan Milosevic came to power as president ● Surges of nationalism ○ Communists opposed nationalism, and Tito kept cases “hidden” fell soon after. ○ However, Milosevic confronted ethnic tensions, breaking taboo ○ Milosevic promoted Serbians in politics against the Albanians 1. Slovenia ● Became poster child for the “third way” ● Democracy flourished ● 1989, Slovenia amends constitution ○ Asserts right to secede from Yugoslavia ● 1991, Slovenia declares independence from Yugoslavia ○ Bloodless “war” lasted for 10 days, Yugoslavia withdraws forces 2. Croatia ● Large Serbian population ● 1990, multi-party elections began ○ Croatian nationalists are elected ○ Franjo Tudjman becomes President ● 1991, Croatia declares independence from Yugoslavia ○ Violence between Serbs and Croats ensue ● War between Serbs and Croats erupts ○ 1992, United Nations mediates a cease fire ○ 1993, Croats attempt to seize more territory ■ Second ceasefire is issued later that year ● 1992, “Joint declaration” of peace between Croatia and Yugoslavia ● Serbians establish Republic of Krajina, within Croatia ○ 1993, Croatian Army threatens the Republic of Krajina ○ 1994, third Serb-Croat ceasefire is issued ■ Ceasefire is broken twice more ○ Croats absorb Republic of Krajina ● 1995, Dayton Peace Agreement is signed ○ Croatia commits to permanent ceasefire ○ Refugees are returned, peaceful integration of Serbians ○ By 1998, Croatia got back its territory 3. Bosnia and Herzegovina ● 1991, “Serb Autonomous Regions” established within Bosnia ● Regions became “Serbian Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina” ○ Separate constitution and legislature from Bosnia ● Renamed to be the “Republic of the Serbian People in Bosnia-Herzegovina” ● 1992, Bosnian government holds independence vote ○ The vote passed, majority voting for independence ● Bosnian parliament declared independence from Yugoslavia ○ Bosnian Serbs opposed this decision ● The “Republic” held their own referendum, deciding to side with Yugoslavia ● Bosnian Serbs send armed forces to Bosnia ○ Supported by Serbia ○ Called for partition, Bosnian Serbs could join “Greater Serbia” ● 1992, Serbs cut off food to Bosnian capital, Sarajevo ○ US and 20 other countries begin relief airlift to civilians ○ NATO creates a “no fly” zone for Serbian aircrafts over Bosnia ● Meanwhile, Croatia attempted to take Bosnia’s territory (failed) ● 1994, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina signed ○ Between Muslims and Croats in Bosnia ○ Unites Bosnians and Croatians together against the Serbs ● 1995, NATO begins bombing campaign over Serbians in Bosnia ● 1995, Dayton Peace Agreement ○ Ends conflict in Bosnia ○ Bosnia and Herzegovina joined the United Nations 4. Macedonia ● 1991, Macedonia declares independence ○ Communism collapses throughout Eastern Europe ○ Albanians refuse to participate in referendum voting ● Macedonia breaks away from Yugoslavia without violence ● November of 1991, Macedonian constitution is established 5. Montenegro ● 1992, constitution of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is established ● Montenegro reaffirms ties to Serbia ● 2002, another referendum is made, same conclusion ● Montenegro declares independence in 2006 after a final referendum 6. Serbia ● Yugoslavia is dissolved, Republic of Serbia remains -----------------------------------------------Post-Dissolution---------------------------------------------- Bosnia and Herzegovina ● Consists of two entities: ○ Federation of Bosnia ■ Primarily Bosnian Muslim and Croat populations ○ Republika Srpska ■ Primarily Serbian population ● National government is a 6 party coalition ● 2,000 EU troops remain in Bosnia and Herzegovina Macedonia ● Democratic elections continue ● Tensions between Macedonians and Albanian population lead to violence ○ Through diplomacy a ceasefire was negotiated ○ Minority groups of Macedonia have increased civil rights Kosovo ● Historically, region of Kosovo controlled by Serbia ● Ethnic Albanians mistreated and fired from state positions by Serbs ○ Albanian jobs were filled by Serbian workers ● Kosovo Albanians began peaceful resistance ● Parallel Kosovo government was established ○ Funded by Albanians outside of Kosovo/Serbia ● Serbian police committed atrocities against civilians ● 1997, Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) was established ○ Pushed independence of Kosovo from Serbia ○ Utilized force against Serbian government ● Rambouillet Accords ○ Called for autonomy of Kosovo ○ Recognized cruelty of Serbs towards Albanians ○ Rejected by Serbia ● 1999, in response to Serbia, 80 days of bombing by NATO over Serbia ● 1999, UN Security Council passes Resolution 1244 ○ Authorized international presence in Kosovo ● UN Mission in Kosovo and NATO-led security forces (KFOR, Kosovo Forces) ○ Helped Albanians, but minorities like the Roma were killed and displaced ● 2008, Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia