*Adapted from At Cold War's End: US Intelligenge on the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, 1989-1991 (1999). 378 p. [PREX 3.2:C 67]
For more detailed chronological data consult the titles provided at the end of this chronology.
3 February
Soviet troop withdrawals from Czechoslovakia begin.
Soviet troop withdrawals from Czechoslovakia begin.
6 February
Solidarity and Polish Government start roundtable talks.
Solidarity and Polish Government start roundtable talks.
18 February
Polish Government declares USSR, not Nazi Germany, was responsible for 1940 Katyn Forest massacre.
Polish Government declares USSR, not Nazi Germany, was responsible for 1940 Katyn Forest massacre.
7 April
Solidarity legalized, signs agreement on elections in which it can contest 35 percent of seats in Sejm, all in Senat.
Solidarity legalized, signs agreement on elections in which it can contest 35 percent of seats in Sejm, all in Senat.
25 April
Soviet forces begin leaving Hungary.
Soviet forces begin leaving Hungary.
2 May
Hungarian Government lifts "iron curtain" along border with Austria.
Hungarian Government lifts "iron curtain" along border with Austria.
7 July
Gorbachev tells Warsaw Pact leaders they can choose their own road to socialism.
Gorbachev tells Warsaw Pact leaders they can choose their own road to socialism.
22 August
Gorbachev urges Polish communists to join coalition government with Solidarity.
Gorbachev urges Polish communists to join coalition government with Solidarity.
24 August
First non-communist government in Eastern Europe since 1948 elected in Poland.
First non-communist government in Eastern Europe since 1948 elected in Poland.
September
More than 17,000 East Germans flee to Austria via Czechoslovakia and Poland.
More than 17,000 East Germans flee to Austria via Czechoslovakia and Poland.
10 September
Hungary opens border with Austria, allowing East Germans to flee.
Hungary opens border with Austria, allowing East Germans to flee.
7 October
Gorbachev visits East Germany, urges Erich Honecker to adopt reforms.
Gorbachev visits East Germany, urges Erich Honecker to adopt reforms.
7 October
Hungarian Communist Party becomes a socialist party.
Hungarian Communist Party becomes a socialist party.
27 October
Warsaw Pact members endorse right of self-determination, renounce Brezhnev doctrine.
Warsaw Pact members endorse right of self-determination, renounce Brezhnev doctrine.
9 November
Berlin Wall opens.
Berlin Wall opens.
10 November
Todor Zhivkov ousted and replaced by Petar (Petur) Mladenov in Bulgaria.
Todor Zhivkov ousted and replaced by Petar (Petur) Mladenov in Bulgaria.
19 November
10,000 attend Civic Forum rally in Czechoslovakia.
10,000 attend Civic Forum rally in Czechoslovakia.
28 November
Czechoslovakia abandons leading role of party.
Czechoslovakia abandons leading role of party.
3 December
East German government resigns.
East German government resigns.
4 December
Warsaw Pact condemns 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia.
Warsaw Pact condemns 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia.
10 December
Non-communist government elected in Czechoslovakia.
Non-communist government elected in Czechoslovakia.
25 December
Nicolae Ceausescu, wife executed in Romania.
Nicolae Ceausescu, wife executed in Romania.
29 December
Vaclav Havel becomes first democratic president of Czechoslovakia.
Vaclav Havel becomes first democratic president of Czechoslovakia.
---------------------------------
More detailed chronologies are found in:
East, Roger. Revolutions in Eastern Europe. London & NY: Pinter Publishers, 1992. 193 p.
(Country-specific chronologies are provided)
(Country-specific chronologies are provided)
Held, Joseph, ed. The Columbia history of Eastern Europe in the twentieth century. New York: Columbia University Press, 1992. 435 p
(Includes a 59-page chronology covering the years from 1918 to 1990 in great detail)
(Includes a 59-page chronology covering the years from 1918 to 1990 in great detail)
Webb, Adrian. The Routledge companion to Central and Eastern Europe since 1919. London & NY: Routledge, 2008. 363 p.
(Its chronology, spanning over 150 pages, is divided into two parts, an integrated chronology and thematic chronologies)
(Its chronology, spanning over 150 pages, is divided into two parts, an integrated chronology and thematic chronologies)
Bulgaria. Republic of Bulgaria – Republika Balgarija
DDR Geschichte – Chronik 1989
http://www.mdr.de/89/chronik-neunundachtzig100.html
http://www.mdr.de/89/chronik-neunundachtzig100.html
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