The Fall of the Berlin Wall Eastern and Western Germany Changes in Central and Eastern Europe

The Fall of the Berlin Wall Changes in Central and Eastern Europe

1961-1989A mass of people

congregated on both sides with hammers, small tools

and East and West Berliners greeted one another to celebrate

• 1st President of the Soviet Union 1990 -91 (59% votes)

• Stablished new policies of Glasnot “openess” and Perestroika (restructuring) they were necesary for accelerate the economic development that was stalled.

• Reduce Cold War tensions with President Reagan.

• Announced his proposal for the elimination of nuclear bombs in Europe.

Soviet Union: Mijail Gorbachov Nobel peace prize 1990

• Take out the Soviet forces from Afghanistan and in 1988 he said that he will allow the Eastern bloc nations to freely determine their own internal affairs.

• Gorbachov and G. Bush continued talks in order to find the middle ground between both groups.

• 1989: elections take place in Poland. Communist rule had already deposed.

• Political initiatives were positive for freedom & democracy but not for economic policy and they had severe problems such as a debt of $120 billions and scarce of basic food.

• He reunited with Barack Obama in order to develop better relations.

Yugoslavia 1945 Population on 1981

Serbs 36,3%

Croats 19,8%

Muslims 8.9%

Slovens 7,8%

Macedonians 6,0%

Yugoslaves 5,4%

Montenegrins 2,6%

Hungars 1,9%

Others 1,3%

The break of Yugoslavia Josip Tito 1945-1980• Conflict: After WW1 this country had 8 major ethnic

groups: Serbs, Croats, Muslims, Slovenes, Macedonians, Albanians, Hungarians, and Montenegrins formed this country.

• After WW2 it became a federation of six republics.• Slovenia and Croacia declared independence in 1991 after

fighting they freed themselves from Serbian rule.• In 1992 Bosnia Herzegovina joined Slovenia and Croatia in

declaring independence. Serbia y Montenegro formed a new Yugoslavia.

• By 1995, the Serbian military controlled 70%of Bosnia• 1996 Bosnians elected a three person presidency.• 1999 a Rebellion in Kosovo led NATO actions over

Yugoslavia.• 2006 a referendum revealed Montenegrins wanted to

separate from Serbia.

Yugoslavia Today

Germany´s Challenges• 1987 President Reagan said: “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down

this wall”. Two years later the German leader (Egon Krenz) turns down the Berlin Wall.

• By 1989 the East German Communist Party had ceased to exist.

• REUNIFICATION: was officially on October 1990.

• Germany faces serious problems because more than 40 years of communist rule left Easter Germany in ruins.

• WHY reunification of the two Germanys was not easy?

Easter Germany was in ruins. The city was not modernized since WW2.• railroads• Highways• Telephone system• East Germany industry produced

goods that could not compete in the global market.

• Differences began growing between eastern and western citizens

• Rebuilding East bankrupt economy implied a costly process.

• Kohl raised taxes, inefficient factories closed and unemployment increased.

• Unemployment was the highest in Europe, and the rising inflation was a problem.

Poland and Hungary Were the first Countries in Eastern Europe with spirit of change, communist rulers resisted, but Gorbachev not oppose reform. Polish workers went on strike, demanding government recognition of their union SOLIDARITY and millions of Poles supported the action.

• SOLIDARITY defeats Communists with Lech Walesa that became an hero.

• Walesa tried to revive Poland´s bankrupt economy. By the mid-1990s economy was improving but in 1995 they vote Kwasniewski and Poland became a member of NATO, provide support in war against terrorism after September 11, 2001 opposed reforms of the free market and supported American-led campaign in Iraq.

• The next year declared the martial law.• In 1980´s industrial production declined• Foreign debt rose more than $40 billion.• Workers demand raises and the legalization of

Solidarity• The millitary leader agreed and first free election

was possible in 1989-90

Hungary• Inspired by the changes in Poland, Hungary launched a reform

program .• A new constitution permitted a multiparty system with free

elections.• 1990 (a year later) the nation´s voters put a non- Communist

governent in power.• In 1999 Hungary joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization

as a full member

Romania• By late 1980 only Romania seemed unmoved by the calls for

reform. But they began a protest of their own.

• Communist dictator Ceausescu maintained firm on power and ordered the army to fire on demonstrators. (massacre in Timisoara)

• Shocked by the collapse of his power, he attemped to flee, but he was executed on Christmas Day, 1989.

• Elections have been held regularly since then.

Czechoslovaquia• Czechoslovaquia was also affected by the transformations

but a conservative government led by Milos Jakes resisted all change so the police arrested several dissidents.

• About 10.000 people demanded democracy and freedom in the center of Prague. Hundreds were arrested.

• 3 weeks later 25.000 students inspired by the fall of Berlin Wall demanded reform. Police brutally attacked them.

• 500.000 protesters demanded the end of Communist rule so Milos Jakes resigned.

• A month later they had a new Parliament.

• Unable to agree on economic policy Slovakia and the Czech Republic split into two countries on 1993.

• Both Slovakia and Czech Republic joined NATO and the EU.

Synonym of peace, Union,

Democracy and freedom

Buenos Aires celebra caída del muro de Berlín con dominó giganteLa Ciudad de Buenos Aires replicó este domingo el festejo realizado en Berlín por el vigésimo aniversario de la caída del Muro, con un dominó gigante de 200 piezas que fueron pintadas por 800 niños, en el marco de un acuerdo cultural entre ambas capitales.

El festejo se realizó bajo el lema "La cultura derriba muros" y el secretario de Cultura porteño, Hernán Lombardi, explicó que la representación del dominó sirve "para celebrar la caída de un muro pero también para tomar conciencia de los muros que aún quedan por derribar".

Decenas de pequeños y adolescentes, con pinturas y pinceles de diferentes colores, le dieron el toque final a los bloques antes de que fueran cayendo acompasadamente a lo largo de 500 metros en la tradicional avenida De Mayo.

Some songs and singers inspired in the Berlin Wall

Elton John “Nikita”Scorpions “Wind of change”David Bowie “Heroes”Pink Floyd “The Wall”Rogers Waters “ Tears down the wall”

"Nikita"Hey Nikita is it coldIn your little corner of the worldYou could roll around the globeAnd never find a warmer soul to know

Oh I saw you by the wallTen of your tin soldiers in a rowWith eyes that looked like ice on fireThe human heart a captive in the snow

Oh Nikita You will never know anything about my homeI'll never know how good it feels to hold youNikita I need you soOh Nikita is the other side of any given line in timeCounting ten tin soldiers in a rowOh no, Nikita you'll never know

Do you ever dream of meDo you ever see the letters that I writeWhen you look up through the wireNikita do you count the stars at night

And if there comes a timeGuns and gates no longer hold you inAnd if you're free to make a choiceJust look towards the west and find a friend