Significant Events in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe Between 1985-1990 Timeline
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Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty signed
It was an agreement between the United States and the Soviet Union. It was signed in Washington, D.C. by U.S. President Ronald Reagan and General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev. It was to eliminate their Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles. It was also to eliminate threat and tension between the two countries. -
Gorbachev Introduces Glasnost
Glasnost is the policy or practice of more open consultative government and wider dissemination of information, initiated by leader Mikhail Gorbachev from 1985. -
Gorbachev Introduces Perestroika
Perestroika is the policy and practice of reforming the economic and political system. Perestroika originally referred to increasing automated equipment and labor efficiency, but then came aware of economic markets and the ending of central planning. -
Berlin Wall Falls
It was when citizens of Germany could go to the East and West side as they pleased. Sections of the Berlin Wall were torn down. GDR citizens could visit West Germany and West Berlin. Crowds of East Germans crossed and climbed onto the Wall. West Germans were on the other side celebrating. -
Vaclav Havel Elected President of Czechoslovakia
December 29, 1989, and he was reelected in July of 1990. He was the first person to become president after Czechoslovakia split. -
1st General Elections in Romania
They were also the first free elections held in Romania, after the Communist regime, and first free elections in 1937. -
Jozsef Antall Elected Prime Minister of Hungary
Jozef Antall became prime minister of Hungary from May 23, 1990 to his death, on December 12, 1993. -
Germany Reunification Takes Place
It was the process in 1990 in which the German Democratic Republic (GDR/East Germany) joined the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG/West Germany). It was to reunite both into one nation, Germany, and when Berlin reunited into a single city -
Lech Walesa Elected President of Poland
He was the second president of Poland. He was president from December 22, 1990 to December 22, 1995. He was also a retired Polish politician.
