Fall of the USSR

The Fall of the USSR

Period: Jan 1, 1980 to Dec 31, 1991

The Soviets Burn Up Their Rescources

Jun 1, 1980

In the 1980's, the Soviets were burning through their foreign exchange and gold reserves at a rapid clip; Gorbachev realized that the centrally-planned economy was fundamentally unworkable, but Perestroika and Glasnost were far too little, far too late. By the time the Union collapsed, it was totally bankrupt state.

Reduce of Soviet food imports

May 14, 1985

In 1985, there was a drastic reduce in the Soviet food imports by $20 billion, the amount the Soviet Union lost when oil prices collapsed. But in pratical terms, this option meant the introdution of food rationing at rates similar to those used during World War II. The Soviet Union would not survive for even a month losing $20 billion in food imports.

The resources of the military

Sep 15, 1985

In the middle of 1980's, the USSR used 70% of its industrial resources in the military. The USSR had 10 to 13 million men by the end of World War II. The USSR had 5 million after Germany surrendered. The army dropped because the soldiers wanted to be in more advanced armies. This resulted in the 1951 AK-47 and the 1967 BMP-1 which would direct the Soviet military operations in the Cold War.

Communist Party

Dec 1, 1985

Gorbachev appoints Boris Yeltsin as the head boss of the Moscow Communist Party. Yeltsin has the same idea to make a more dynamic country as Gorbachev. These 2 make a dangerous couple together.

Chernobyl Disaster

Jan 1, 1986

the Chernobyl disaster caused more motivation for Gorbachev’s glasnost and perestroika reforms, which led to the eventual fall of the Soviet system. Gorbachev’s thoughts behind these reforms was to bring more power and stability to the soviet union, but the downturn of the USSR.

The autonomy of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania

Jan 1, 1987

In 1987, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania demanded autonomy from the USSR. Estonia was the first to demand the autonomy with Latvia and Lithuania following suit. On November 16, 1988, the Estonian Sovereignty Declaration was issued. On August 20, 1991, formal independence of Estonia was declared. The Soviet Union recognized Estonia's declaration on September 6, 1991. Iceland was the first country to recognize Estonia's independence.

The Fall of the Berlin Wall

Nov 9, 1989

Video:source for berlin wall
An event that lead up to the fall of the USSR was when the Border separating Western from Eastern Germany (The Berlin Wall) fell. The Berlin wall was not only a physical boundary; it was also the symbolic boundary between democracy and Communism during the Cold War. After the Berlin Wall came down, East and West Germany reunified into a single German state.

Break up of demonstrations in Azerbaijan's capital, Baku

Jan 19, 1990

In the middle of January, 1990, there were demonstrations outside Azerbaijan's capial, Baku. On January 19, 1990, 26,000 Soviet soldiers entered the city of Baku. 130 people were killed and more than 700 civilians were wounded. Hundreds of people were detained and only some were put on trial for alleged criminal offenses. The Soviet army had taken physical control over Baku, but on January 20, 1990, the Soviet Union lost Azerbaijan.

Yeltsin resigns and Gorbachev begins

Jul 15, 1990

In July 1990, Yeltsin resigns from a communist party and leaving Gorbachev by himself. Gorbachev wins the Noble Peace Prize in 1990 and the Harvey Prize in 1992. Gorbachev's Perestroika starts to lose power and violence erupted in Nagorno, Karabakh between February and April. Gorbachev started to lose ground to the nationalists.

Gorbachev is kidnapped

Aug 19, 1991

This link has information about the kidnapping and many other thingsOn the 19th of August in 1991, A group communtists extremists made a final push to save the USSR. They formed together to make a small group to capture Gorbachev. They then, on national television, announced that Gorbachev was no longer able to govern. The whole country went into an uproar over this. <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/595W4JJHa2U" frameborder="0

The dissolution of the USSR

Dec 14, 1991

In December of 1991, the Soviet Union broke into 15 different countries. The collapse was hailed by the west as a victory for freedom, a triumph of democracy over totalitarianism, and evidence over the superiority of capitalism over socialism. On December 25, 1991, Gorbachev resigned being president of the USSR. Gorbachev put all the power of the USSR to Yeltsin.

Presidents Meet

Dec 22, 1991

The presidents of the Soviet republics of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus met secretly and agreed to dissolve the Soviet Union, replacing it with a loose, voluntary form of union known as the Commonwealth of Independent States. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-2kx549Mf0