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Round-table talks between Solidarity, the Communists and the Catholic Church. Partially free elections see widespread success for Solidarity, which helps form coalition government.
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Polish Government declares that the USSR (not Nazi Germany) was responsible for 1940 Katyn Forest massacre. This mass execution of Polish nationals was very costly towards revolution.
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Solidarity legalized, signs agreement on elections in which it can contest 35 percent of seats in Sejm, all in Senat.
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Soviet forces begin leaving Hungary due to lack of resources.
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Hungarian Government lifts "iron curtain" along border with Austria allowing people to travel from country to country freely.
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Years of crisis and opposition forces the Polish regime to call elections. Solidarity, which now backs the free market, wins them.
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Gorbachev tells Warsaw Pact leaders they can choose their own road to socialism. Gorbachev urges Polish communists to join coalition government with Solidarity.
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Poland’s Tadeusz Mazowiecki becomes Soviet bloc’s first non-Communist prime minister.
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More than 17,000 East Germans flee to Austria via Czechoslovakia and Poland. Hungary opens border with Austria, allowing East Germans to flee.
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Hungary opens border with the West. The exodus of East German refugees begins.
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While visiting East Berlin, Russian leader Mikhail Gorbachev indirectly urges reform. The first demonstrations against the East German regime take place. Gorbachev visits East Germany, urges Erich Honecker to adopt reforms.
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One million East Germans protest for democracy in East Berlin’s main square.
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East Germany’s government resigns
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Thousands of East German protesters go to border crossings demanding they be let through. The wall is breached and people begin to pull it down in celebration.
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Bulgaria’s regime removes long-time dictator Todor Zhivkov from power.
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Walesa elected president of Poland. Market reforms, including large-scale privatisation, are launched. Changes are being made as new cabinent members are selected.
