Chronology

Published on Saturday, 13 February 2010 19:24 | Print


Short 1989 Chronology

January 19: Demonstration commemorating the memory of Jan Palach in Czechoslovakia.

February 6: The Polish communist government accepts the organization of a roundtable with representatives of the Solidarity trade union.

February 11: The Hungarian Communist Party approves multiparty system.

April 5: Signature of the "round table" agreements between the Polish communist government and Solidarity.

May 2: The Hungarian government of Miklós Németh decides to dismantle the Iron Curtain between Hungary and Austria.

June 4: First semi-free elections in Poland: Solidarity's victory.

June 13: Panel discussion between the government and Communist opposition in Hungary to negotiate a peaceful transition to democracy.

June 16 : In Hungary, Imre Nagy receives a state funeral.

June: The GDR citizens who want to leave the country took refuge in the West German embassies in Warsaw and Prague.

August 19:

Pan-European Picnic: 500 East Germans cross the border between Hungary and Austria.
A non-communist Prime Minister, Tadeusz Mazowiecki, member of Solidarity, forms a coalition government in Poland. The leadership of the Communist Party is abolished.

August-September: Launch of the massive refugee exodus of East Germans through Czechoslovakia and Hungary.

August 23: more than 1,5 Million people joining their hands over the three Baltic States (“Baltic way”).

October 1: Arrive in the West of thousands of East Germans through Czechoslovakia and Poland.

October 3: East Germany closes its border with Czechoslovakia.

October 6: The Hungarian Communist Party became "Hungarian Socialist Party."

October 7:

Celebration of the 40th anniversary of the GDR in East Berlin.
In Hungary, the Socialist Workers Party (Communist Party) becomes the Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP), with social democratic program.

October 18: Erich Honecker, general secretary of the GDR Communist Party, leaves power.

October 23: The Hungarian People's Republic is renamed Republic of Hungary. November 4: Huge protests in East Berlin and throughout the GDR.

November 9: Fall of the Berlin Wall.

November 10: Resignation of Bulgarian dictator Todor Zhivkov in power since 1954 in Bulgaria.

November 17 to 27: Success of the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia.

November 28: Helmut Kohl presents a plan for reunification of Germany.

December 10: A non-communist government led by Marian Calfa takes power and establish a multiparty system in Czechoslovakia.

December 11: Abolition of the leadership of the Communist Party in Bulgaria.

December 17: Outbreak of the Revolt of Timisoara in Romania.

December 21: Bucharest: Nicolae Ceauşescu booed by the people during his public speech.

December 22: Fall of the Communist regime in Romania.

December 24: Total freedom of movement between eastern and western Germany.

December 25: Execution of Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu and his wife.

December 28: Alexander Dubcek elected speaker of parliament in Czechoslovakia.

December 29: Václav Havel elected president of the republic Czechoslovakia.