Chapter 33 – The Fall of Communism

Time skip to February 1988

[3rd POV]

Less than 2 years had passed since the Reunification of Germany. The politburo allowed it to peacefully happen, with the plan of consolidating their forces to preserve their remaining holdings.

This was not to be.

For the past couple of years, civil unrest had been occurring non-stop. Mass protests in Prague. Worker strikes in Budapest. Civil disobedience in Bucharest.

However, unlike the Berlin uprising, very few people resorted to violence. This prevented Soviet troops from being able to do anything about the protesters. They could only stand around them as cameras watched them.

Then the unthinkable happened. Amidst growing opposition and demands for political reforms, the Polish government was ousted from power. For years they had been in negotiations with other organizations, and after a lot back and forth, elections were declared, held, and unsurprisingly, the communist party won an astounding 0 seats.

And just like that, the dam broke.

As Soviet troops redeployed to and around Poland, Todor Zhivkov, the General Secretary of the Bulgarian Communist Party was ousted from power by his own party in what is known as the 'Zhivkov Resignation.' The remaining members announced that Bulgaria would hold multiparty elections in the summer.

In Czechoslovakia, a peaceful popular uprising, later called the 'Velvet Revolution,' where there were large-scale protests and strikes. The Communist Party leadership broke and relinquished power and agreed to elections in December.

In Romania, rioters clashed with security forces. Nicolae Ceausescu, the General Secretary of the Communist Party in Romania, was captured, tried, and executed, along with his wife. After Ceausescu's downfall, a provisional government was formed, and Romania began a difficult process of political and economic reforms.

In Hungary, the ruling Socialist Workers' Party had already implemented a series of political and economic reforms, moving towards a market-oriented economy and greater political openness. They had even opened their border with Austria. However, protesters were not satisfied with these reforms and continued. Under pressure from widespread pro-democracy movements, the Hungarian government officially abandoned communism, marking the end of one-party rule.

Hundreds of thousands of Soviet soldiers found themselves behind enemy lines, surrounded by people who wanted them gone. Most concerningly, they had armored vehicles, artillery, and ICBMs in their possessions.

Due to these events, an emergency meeting was held between the USA and the USSR. From that meeting, the Soviet representative agreed to evacuate all troops from the Warsaw Pact nations, and the American representative agreed that NATO would not expand an inch to the east.

This move was not popular in Moscow, especially among the hardcore communists. Their empire, forged with the blood of over 20 million dead during WWII, had basically collapsed. The nation was in shambles, and the country was humiliated. To them, the solution was clear: Gorbachev had to go.

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Time skip to March 15, 1988

[3rd POV]

On the Ides of March, hardline Communist Party members staged a coup. They declared a state of emergency and announced the removal of Gorbachev due to his failures. All around Moscow, armed men took control of key government buildings and media outlets.

However, many people were not happy. Ordinary Muscovites did not want to experience hardcore communism. Gorbachev had gone all out in the last couple of years to save the Soviet Union.

He signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with the United States, banning all ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with intermediate ranges (500 to 5,500 kilometers). The treaty resulted in the elimination of thousands of missiles and played a significant role in reducing tensions during the Cold War. Most importantly, it reduced the Soviet nuclear missile system, saving tons of money.

He also implemented a more transparency and openness in Soviet society. Less censorship, more freedom of speech. He hoped that this would reduce corruption, inefficiencies, and human rights concerns by promoting public accountability and public scrutiny.

However, most impactful for ordinary people were the reforms to modernize the socialist system. By opening up the economy and introducing market mechanisms, there was more foreign investment, which grew the economy. Businesses started popping up, including a Pizza Hut, which produced a television ad featuring Gorbachev.

All these reforms were broadly popular, especially with younger people. So, they protested.

Thousands gathered in Red Square to protest the coup. The Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, Boris Yeltsin, condemned the coup and called for a general strike.

The next day, tens of thousands more showed up for the protest.

Military units refused to carry out orders from the coup leaders. Most soldiers joined the protesters. At that point, the coup leaders surrounded themselves with their most loyal members and attempted to arrest Boris Yeltsin. However, they failed to do so when members of the Soviet military showed up against them with several armored vehicles.

Eventually, the coup collapsed, and its leaders were arrested. Gorbachev, who was being held under house arrest in Crimea, was released. He immediately took the first flight to Moscow.

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Arriving back in Moscow, Gorbachev was nervous. Since Boris Yeltsin had gained his position, he had spent all his time attempting to increase the power of the Russian state and decrease the power of the Soviet Union.

Addressing the Congress of People's Deputies of the Soviet Union, the highest legislative body, he denounced the coup and emphasized unity. He emphasized the power transfer from the coup leaders to legitimate authorities. He called for more autonomy within the states in the union.

However, it all fell on deaf years. The next day, he was in a room with Boris Yeltsin, who explained that after talking with the leaders of Ukraine and Belarus, they all agreed to dissolve the Soviet Union. Shaking, Gorbachev signed the dotted line, officially resigning as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

Afterwards, Yeltsin would declare the Communist party banned, and announced that the Soviet Union no longer existed. In its place, there would be 15 nations, with the Russian Federation as its successor.

Standing at his side was a mid-level KGB officer, previously stationed in Berlin, currently giving Yeltsin noticeable side eye. That man would never forget the humiliation he felt for his country, as he watched corrupt or incompetent politicians destroy everything he cared about.

And he held one nation, no, he held two specific people responsible. And he vowed to have his revenge.

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