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Gorbachev announces major reductions in Soviet forces in Europe
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Border between Hungary and Austria opened
East Germans flee to the west by taking holidays in Hungary -
Free elections in Poland
new government solidarity led - support remained high, even from the church,despite the fact that solidarity is illegal. (failure of previous government to solve economical problems) By 1988 the govt had lifted martial law and prepared to introduce reforms in response to Gorbachev's policies. general elections in 1989 -solidarity defeated communism by a landslide. communist party collapsed and by 1990 it held no position in govt. USSR did nothing to stop these events - didnt want to impose views -
end of communist rule in Hungary
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Berlin wall in East Germany falls
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end of communist rule in Czechoslovakia
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end of communist hardliners ruling Bulgaria
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overthrow of Ceausescu's communist regime in romania
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reunification of East and West Germany
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Free elections in Albania
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independence of Yugoslavia, Croatia and Slovenia
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Belarus declares independence of USSR
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Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania gain independence from USSR
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Ukraine votes for independence from USSR
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USSR formally dissolved
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Bosnia declared independent - leads to bloody civil war
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Slovakia splits into 2 countries - Czech Rupublic and Slovakia
