The break-up of the Eastern Bloc

Question 1

What was Gorbachev’s attitude to the Eastern Bloc?

Answer 1

Eastern Bloc countries should be free to run themselves how they want.

Question 2

What was the consequence of Gorbachev’s reforms spreading to Eastern Bloc countries?

Answer 2

The countries of the Eastern Bloc and many of the republics of the USSR wanted to become independant

Question 3

Why did Gorbachev scrap the Brezhnev doctrine? (give two reasons)

Answer 3

Any of the reasons below:

1. Cost of troops and military hardware was crippling the USSR’s economy
2. The west would only improve trade if repression was reduced (trade was necessary for USSR’S economy)
3. He believed openness would make all Eastern Bloc countries better

Question 4

What forced the East German government to announce that East Germans could cross the Berlin Border?

Answer 4

After the Hungarian revolution, people started leaving East Germany through Hungary. (Forced government to allow Berlin border crossing)

Question 5

When was the fall of the Berlin wall?

Answer 5

9th November 1989