THE FALL OF THE WALL |
| 11 MARCH 1985: Michael Gorbachev, 54, takes over as Soviet general secretary after the death of Chernenko at the age of 73. |
| 14 APRIL 1988: the U.S.S.R. agrees to pull its troops out of Afghanistan. |
| 7 DECEMBER 1988: In an U.N.-speech Gorbachev promises to reduce Soviet presence at the western frontiers of Warsaw Bloc. |
| 18 AUGUST 1989: 40 years of Communist rule end in Poland after Party candidates have been defeated and Mazowieki takes over. |
| 23 AUGUST 1989: Lithuanians, Latvians and Estonians join hands to form a human chain to demand independence from U.S.S.R. |
 17
OCTOBER 1989: Erich Honecker is forced to resign from the presidency of DDR to be replaced
by hard-liner Egon Krenz. |
| 23 OCTOBER 1989: Hungary proclaims itself a democratic republic after having opened its borders for DDR-citizens. |
| 9 NOVEMBER 1989: The East Germans are allowed
to leave DDR as the Wall of Berlin falls. |
 17 NOVEMBER 1989: In Chechoslowakia demonstrations against
the Communists; Husak resign 10 Dec. 1989 and Havel takes over. |
| 16 DECEMBER 1989: In Romania battles between Securitate and demonstrators result in the demise of Ceaucescu the 25 Dec. 1989. |
| 22
DECEMBER 1989: the Brandenburg Gate is opened as the East and Western Berlin is united. |
| 11 MARCH 1990: Lithuanians decide to secede from U.S.S.R. and Gorbachev sent in the tanks. |
| 18
MARCH 1990: East Germans hold the first free election since 1932. |
| 3
OCTOBER 1990: The Reunification of Germany after 43 years of division. |
| 20 DECEMBER 1990: Lech Walesa becomes President of Poland after a second ballot. |
| 19-24 AUGUST 1991: Yeltsin averts an attempted coup by Communist hardliners. Yeltsin bans the Party and succeeds Gorbachev. |
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