Collapse of Berlin Wall and Eastern Bloc

• • Sinatra Doctrine: Gorbachev's policy of letting Eastern Europe go own way without fear of Soviet influence to be kept loyal
• End of communist rule in East Europe:

  • 1989: Poland - Solidarity is legalised and Polish elections remove communism
  • 1989: East Germany - 125,000 East Germans cross border, USSR does not stop riots in East Germany, border to West is opened, East and West Germany reunited in 1990
  • 1989: Hungary - border with Austria removed, new democratic government
  • 1989: Czechoslovakia - communist government overthrown
  • 1989: Romania - communist government overthrown
  • 1989: Bulgaria - communist leader resigns
  • 1989: Yugoslavia - war breaks out
• Why did Berlin Wall fall?

  • Soviet army did not challenge East Germans moving to West
  • Gorbachev said he would not get in way if change was wanted
  • Protests to open Checkpoint Charlie
  • Gorbachev did not challenge demonstrations in Nov 1989 and open border indefinitely
• Immediate consequence:

  • Fall of was reunited families
  • Fall of wall broadcast around world
  • Fall of wall proved Gorbachev would not stop protests by East Germans
• Consequences: Gorbachev fell from power

  • Extreme communist leaders of USSR thought Gorbachev was too soft
  • Pushed out of power by end of 1991
  • Disagreement and lack of leadership led to end of USSR after 1991
• Consequence: End of Warsaw Pact

  • Warsaw Pact needed to stop resistance against communism
  • Gorbachev said he would not challenge decisions of East Europe countries
  • No need for Pact
  • Showed end to military fight between 2 sides
  • USSR is no longer threat to Western Europe
• Consequence: Eastern Europe got freedom

  • Many countries voted out communism in free elections
  • Showed end of control by USSR
  • Showed lack of support of communism
• Consequence: Reunification of Germany

  • Germany united to one country by end of 1990
  • Mainly controlled by West after unification
  • Showed success of capitalism and loss of control by USSR
• Consequence: Symbolic Event

  • Fall of wall symbolised end of divide
  • Showed victory of West over East and capitalism over communism