Consider how Mikhail Gorbachev's reforms in the Soviet Union unleashed forces that ended the Cold War
Learn how Mikhail Gorbachev's reforms in the Soviet Union unleashed forces that ended...
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Transcript
NARRATOR: March 1985 - a political wind of change blows in Moscow. The chief of state Mikhail Gorbachev wants to reform the Soviet Union. Foreign policy, too, enters a new era. It is a time of disarmament and a relaxation of formerly hostile relationships with the aim of putting an end to the Cold War.
MICHAIL GORBATSCHOW: "The onset of Perestroika in the Soviet Union was the first and decisive step. We changed from a totalitarian regime to a society of freedom and democracy."
NARRATOR: Gorbachev even tolerates reforms in the other socialist states in Europe. Poland is seen as the forerunner.
LECH WALESA: "We applauded Gorbachev’s reforms. We knew that communism would collapse if Gorbachev removed just one brick from the wall."
NARRATOR: During his state visit to West Germany in 1988, much hope is placed in Gorbachev. It is the first time that a Soviet head of state is cheered in the West.
HANS-DIETRICH GENSCHER: "It really was a new kind of thinking. I thought, if he does everything he told us he would, then we have a real chance to unite Germany."
NARRATOR: Gorbachev also forces the East German regime and Erich Honecker to act.
ROLAND JAHN: "He didn't understand that you can’t imprison people forever and take away their rights. He didn't understand that the next generation won’t wait for freedom. That they will take it themselves."
NARRATOR: When Gorbachev visits East Berlin, Honecker is under pressure. The citizens of the GDR set their hopes in Gorbachev.
ULRIKE POPPE: "The main argument of those who challenged the opposition movement was that nothing could change in the GDR without change in the Soviet Union."
NARRATOR: But now, thing’s are changing in Moscow.
VERA LENGSFELD: "There was a slogan in the GDR: learning from the Soviet Union means learning to triumph. And this immediately became our campaign slogan. We now want everything that Gorbachev stands for in the Soviet Union - Glasnost, transparency, and Perestroika, restructuring."
NARRATOR: Citing Gorbachev, the citizens of the GDR push their peaceful revolution forward. And Gorbachev keeps his word. He leaves the decision which way to go to the German people.
GORBATSCHOW: "German unification was of global importance. It was precarious and extremely difficult. It paved the way to ending the Cold War."
NARRATOR: Despite strong opposition from his adversaries in Moscow, Gorbachev continues his politics of disarmament and bringing East and West closer together.
HANS-ULRICH JÖRGES: "It was an incredible piece of luck that this crusty and powerful system was reformed from the top down. Not from the streets, but by one man, who set in motion a movement within his own party – Gorbachev."
NARRATOR: Gorbachev ends the era of a divided Europe.
MICHAIL GORBATSCHOW: "The onset of Perestroika in the Soviet Union was the first and decisive step. We changed from a totalitarian regime to a society of freedom and democracy."
NARRATOR: Gorbachev even tolerates reforms in the other socialist states in Europe. Poland is seen as the forerunner.
LECH WALESA: "We applauded Gorbachev’s reforms. We knew that communism would collapse if Gorbachev removed just one brick from the wall."
NARRATOR: During his state visit to West Germany in 1988, much hope is placed in Gorbachev. It is the first time that a Soviet head of state is cheered in the West.
HANS-DIETRICH GENSCHER: "It really was a new kind of thinking. I thought, if he does everything he told us he would, then we have a real chance to unite Germany."
NARRATOR: Gorbachev also forces the East German regime and Erich Honecker to act.
ROLAND JAHN: "He didn't understand that you can’t imprison people forever and take away their rights. He didn't understand that the next generation won’t wait for freedom. That they will take it themselves."
NARRATOR: When Gorbachev visits East Berlin, Honecker is under pressure. The citizens of the GDR set their hopes in Gorbachev.
ULRIKE POPPE: "The main argument of those who challenged the opposition movement was that nothing could change in the GDR without change in the Soviet Union."
NARRATOR: But now, thing’s are changing in Moscow.
VERA LENGSFELD: "There was a slogan in the GDR: learning from the Soviet Union means learning to triumph. And this immediately became our campaign slogan. We now want everything that Gorbachev stands for in the Soviet Union - Glasnost, transparency, and Perestroika, restructuring."
NARRATOR: Citing Gorbachev, the citizens of the GDR push their peaceful revolution forward. And Gorbachev keeps his word. He leaves the decision which way to go to the German people.
GORBATSCHOW: "German unification was of global importance. It was precarious and extremely difficult. It paved the way to ending the Cold War."
NARRATOR: Despite strong opposition from his adversaries in Moscow, Gorbachev continues his politics of disarmament and bringing East and West closer together.
HANS-ULRICH JÖRGES: "It was an incredible piece of luck that this crusty and powerful system was reformed from the top down. Not from the streets, but by one man, who set in motion a movement within his own party – Gorbachev."
NARRATOR: Gorbachev ends the era of a divided Europe.