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Birth
Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev is born to peasants in Privolnoye, Russia. -
The Berlin Wall is established
The physical division between East Germany and West Berlin in the late 20th century, also known as the Berlin Wall, is built. During the Cold War it also represented the disunion between Communism and democracy. -
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Brezhnev is General Secretary
Brezhnev is the chief executive of the USSR, beginning the "Era of Stagnation". His term ends with his death on November 10, 1982. -
Soviet-Afghan War starts
Soviet troops invade invade Afganistan in this year. -
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Andropov is General Secretary
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Cherneko is General Secretary
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Perestroika Begins
In 1985 the program of perestroika, or "restruction" begins; only in February 1986 is it officially announced by Gorbachev. Glasnost is introduced around the same time. -
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Gorbachev is General Secretary
Gorbachev succeeds Cherneko, and is General Secretary for 6 years. -
INF Treaty
General Secretary Gorbachev and U.S. President Reagan sign the INF Treaty, which would limit the amount of intermediate-range missiles each country harbored. -
Soviet troops are withdrawn from Afghanistan
Gorbachev withdraws over 100,000 Soviet troops are withdrawn from Afghanistan. -
The Berlin Wall falls
The decline of Communism in Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and Poland allows East Germans to exit through new points in attempts to get to the West. Eventually, German government official Günter Schabowski announces that "Permanent relocations can be done through all border checkpoints between the GDR (East Germany) into the FRG (West Germany) or West Berlin." -
Latvia declares independence
Latvia secedes from the Soviet Union, soon to be followed by Estonia. -
Lithuania declares independence
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Gorbachev is President
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Armenia declares independence
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Additional Secessions
11 more republics secede and declare their independence from the USSR. -
Gorbachev's Abduction
Gorbachev is kidnapped by an armed coup, who later surrender when they do cannot overcome the power of the country's population. -
Estonia declares independence
Estonia secedes from the Soviet Union. -
Ukraine declares independence
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Tajikstan declares independence
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Turkmenistan declares independence
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Gorbachev resigns
Gorbachev resigns from office as president, with Yeltsin being his successor; the Soviet Union crumbles due to the pace of change brought on by Gorbachev's reforms.
