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Significant Events in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe 1985-1990

By JoeMeredith

  • Germany reunification takes place

    Germany reunification takes place
    The German reunification was the process in 1990 in which the German Democratic Republic joined the Federal Republic of Germany to form the reunited nation of Germany, and when Berlin reunited into a single city, as provided by its then Grundgesetz constitution Article 23. The end of the unification process is officially referred to as German unity (German: Deutsche Einheit), celebrated on 3 October.

  • Gorbachev introduces glasnost

    Gorbachev introduces glasnost
    The policy or practice of more open consultative government and wider dissemination of information. Initiated by leader Mikhail Gorbachev from 1985.

  • Gorbachev introduces perestroika

    Gorbachev introduces perestroika
    The policy or practice of restructuring or reforming the economic and political system. First proposed by Leonid Brezhnev in 1979 and actively promoted by Mikhail Gorbachev. Perestroika originally referred to increased automation and labor efficiency, but came to entail greater awareness of economic markets and the ending of central planning.

  • Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty signed

    Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty signed
    The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) is a 1987 agreement between the United States and the Soviet Union. Also, by later its successor states, in particular the Russian Federation.

  • Vaclav Havel elected president of Czechoslovakia

    Vaclav Havel elected president of Czechoslovakia
    Václav Havel, born October 5, 1936, Prague, Czechoslovakia —died December 18, 2011, Hrádeček, Czech Republic Czech playwright, poet, and political dissident. After the fall of communism, was president of Czechoslovakia and of the Czech Republic.

  • Berlin Wall Falls

    Berlin Wall Falls
    The Berlin Wall was torn down due to political changes in Europe; Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev lost his control by 1990, and the Soviet Union fell apart. Many people were affected by the tearing down of the Berlin Wall. The East Germans could now be free to travel west and be free.

  • Jozsef Antall elected prime minister of Hungary

    Jozsef Antall elected prime minister of Hungary
    József Antall, Jr. 8 April 1932 – 12 December 1993 was the first democratically-elected Prime Minister of Hungary after the fall of Communism. From 23 May 1990 until 12 December 1993 his death, teacher, librarian, historian and political figure.

  • 1st general elections in Romania

    1st general elections in Romania
    Romania elects on a national level a head of state – the president – and a legislature. The president is elected for a five-year term by the people. The Romanian Parliament has two chambers.

  • Lech Walesa elected president of Poland

    Lech Walesa elected president of Poland
    Lech Wałęsa, (born September 29, 1943, Popowo, near Włocławek, Poland) labour activist who helped form and led (1980–90) communist Poland's first independent trade union, Solidarity. The charismatic leader of millions of Polish workers, he went on to become the president of Poland (1990–95).