Significant Events in the Soviet Union

By 18hwhite

  • 1985—Gorbachev introduces perestroika

    The goal of the perestroika, was not to end the command economy but actually to make socialism work more efficiently to better meet the needs of Soviet consumers.

  • Gorbachev introduces glasnost

    It was a political movement for reformation within the Communist Party of the Soviet Union during the 1980s. associated with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and his glasnost policy reform.

  • Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty signed

    The treaty marked the first time the superpowers had agreed to reduce their nuclear arsenals. Also to eliminate an entire category of nuclear weapons. Also to utilize extensive on-site inspections for verification.

  • Berlin Wall Falls

    The original purpose of this Berlin Wall was to keep Western “fascists” from going into East Germany. And in turn undermining the socialist state. Thousands of citizens torn down the wall all at once.

  • Jozsef Antall elected prime minister of Hungary

    On 21 October 1989 he was elected President of the Hungarian Democratic Forum by a large majority. In turn becoming the party's official candidate for prime minister.

  • Vaclav Havel elected president of Czechoslovakia

    From 1989 to 1992, he served as the last president of Czechoslovakia. Then served as the first president of the Czech Republic (1993–2003) after the Czech–Slovak split.

  • 1st general elections in Romania

    General elections were held in Romania on 20 May 1990. They were the first elections held after the overthrow of the Communist regime six months earlier. It was also the first public presidential elections. They were also the first free elections held in the country since 1937.

  • Lech Walesa elected president of Poland

    A well-known Polish labor leader and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. He is sworn in as the first noncommunist president of Poland since the end of World War II. His victory was another sign of the Soviet Union’s lessening power and communism’s waning influence in Eastern Europe.

  • Germany reunification takes place

    German Democratic Republic joined the Federal Republic of Germany to form the reunited nation of German. Berlin reunited into a single city and still is today.