Europe 1989: Fall of the Berlin Wall

By the 1980s, the Eastern Bloc had begun to fall dangerously behind the West both economically and technologically. To address these issues, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev introduced economic reforms and opened up Soviet politics. He also sought better relations with the West by declaring an end to Soviet meddling in Eastern Europe. The result was the peaceful dismantling of Communism in Poland and Hungary. East Germany followed suit a few months later, with demonstrators tearing down the hated Berlin Wall.

Main Events

6 Jun 1982–10 Jun 1985 1982 Lebanon War

In response to Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) activity on its northern border, Israel agreed to support the Lebanese Front, dominated by the Maronite Christian Phalange, in exchange for a peace treaty with Lebanon. Israel invaded in June 1982, defeating the PLO and their Syrian allies and advancing as far as Beirut. After US- and Arab-backed negotiations, the PLO agreed to evacuate Lebanon, dissolving the PLO-dominated Lebanese National Movement. However, the assassination of Phalangist President-Elect Bachir Gemayel in September impeded progress toward a peace treaty, and the continued Israeli presence inflamed public sentiment against the Phalange, compelling Israeli forces to withdraw to a buffer zone in the south of the country in 1985.in wikipedia

11 Mar 1985 Mikhail Gorbachev

Following the deaths in quick succession of Supreme Leaders Leonid Brezhnev, Yuri Andropov, and Konstantin Chernenko, the Politburo appointed its youngest member, Mikhail Gorbachev, as the new General Secretary.in wikipedia

15 May 1988–15 Feb 1989 Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan

Soon after Gorbachev became General Secretary of the Soviet Union, he gained the support of the Politburo in seeking a withdrawal from the war in Afghanistan. In the 1988 Geneva Accords, the Soviets agreed to withdraw immediately, removing their last troops out in February 1989, but continuing political support of the moribund People’s Republic of Afghanistan.in wikipedia

26 Mar–25 May 1989 Soviet legislative election

First democratic elections held in the Soviet Union to elect the Congress of People’s Deputiesin wikipedia

24 Aug 1989 Tadeusz Mazowiecki of Solidarity appointed Prime Minister of Poland

Tadeusz Mazowiecki of Solidarity appointed Prime Minister of Polandin wikipedia

10 Sep 1989 Removal of Hungary’s border fence

Hungarian government opens borders with Austria, permitting East Germans to travel to the Westin wikipedia

9–10 Nov 1989 Fall of the Berlin Wall

After Hungary and Czechoslovakia opened their borders to Austria, allowing tens of thousands of East Germans to escape to the West, the government of East Germany partially opened its border with West Germany. In the confusion over the new regulations, masses of East Germans gathered at the Berlin Wall, overwhelming the guards and demanding to cross to the West. At 10:45 pm on 9 November, the guards relented. The Wall was swamped by celebrating East and West Germans, then torn down over the ensuing days.in wikipedia