The History of~The Soviet Union (Part 6: Too Little, too late)

One of the most complex nations in modern human history; the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics (or **USSR**) has gone from a modest communist regime to one of the most vile opponents of the west (namely the United States) until it fell on Christmas in 1991.

This is the final part of The History of the Soviet Union. In this part, we will talk about how in the 1980s with Mikhail Gorbachev calling for \*real\* reforms in the Soviet union, but how these reforms would not only be too little too late, but also backfired on the Soviet Union.

## Too little, too late

In 1985, a member of the Soviet Politburo "Mikhail Gorbachev" was elected to be the next Soviet Premier after a series of Premiers deaths. Gorbachev (nicknamed "otmetka", "The Mark" for his iconic birthmark on his head) began by reforming the Soviet Union, and unlike other Soviet Leaders, he wanted to do something different, as in, actually following through on his promises instead of continuing Stalin's paranoid policies. His plan was called

Gorbachev had plans to rebuold the USSR's economy which was in especially bad shape from spending on the military and nukes, and even try to spend more money on what the USSR desperately needs, such as its infrastructure and even feeding the people who were starving. He even caled for more freedom and transparancy in the press which before was censored and weren't even allowed to talk about corruption within the Soviet Politburo, and forbidding the press (and the people) to criticize the Politburo. But with Gorbie in charge, they were allowed to and for the first time in the history of the USSR people weren't arrested for speaking out. He even made the USSR embrace some forms of Capitalism (like China did) so some stores and even fast food restaurants such as McDonald's were open in many areas around the Soviet Union, giving the common person easy access to food. He would also alow free elections allowing the Soviet people for the first time in the Soviet Union's history to vote for their leader.

Yeah, it looks like things are looking up for the Soviet Union.

But, these reforms were good for the Soviet economy, but this would have disastrous effects for the Soviet Union regarding its Warsaw Pact members as this would allow another sense of freedom amongst them. Starting in the leate 1980s, there was a revolution in Poland which in the end allowed for Free Elections in the Polish Government and for the first time in Modern Poland where the people voted for Anti-Communist solidarity and in 1989 the Anti-Communists won the majority of the solidarity. Hungary also opted for free elections despite Gorbie's disagreement, but wouldn't stop them. Czechosloviakia also had a peaceful protest in 1989.

But in Romania, there was a violent revolution. The Romanians began with an uprising just like the Hungarians in 1956. But unlike Hungary, they were successful at pushing out their Soviet occupiers.

But the biggest battle is taking place in East Germany, especially in East Berlin where people throughout the 80s were migrating to a now free Hungary and venture into Austria and to the west so they can bypass the Berlin Wall, despite efforts from Soviet Hardliner and leader of East Berlin; Erich Honecker forbidding people to do so. But what would happen next will be sobering for the west, the wall itself.

In November of 1989, people from East Berlin stormed to the guard stations all over the city to climb the wall and even taking down some sections of the wall, for the first time in nearly 30 years familes were finally reunited.

Though most people didn't know at the time, but the fall of the Berlin Wall would sign the death certificate for the Soviet Union, but there was more things to come before the USSR finally dies.

The reunification of Germany and the successful secession of Lithuania as well as the first Russian President; "Boris Yeltsin" agreeing to deals with Ukraine and Belarus to make a new "Russian Federation" were also big contributors. On Christmas Day in 1991, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was dead on arrival, and the Russian Federation took over.

Even after 30 years since the death of the USSR, it still inspires communists around the world, even some Russians that still believe that communism is the best way (if not the only way) still revere the Soviet Union and its leaders (namely Lenin and Stalin) and even see that it's the only way to get Russia back on its feet.

That'll do it for this 6-part wiki page series. Don't forget to check out my Games and Movies wikis too. Until next time, this is JohnnyOTGS signing out.