europe, eastern

View the limitations of diplomacy and arms control that became evident at the Reykjavik Summit in 1986. Then see Romanian, Czech, and Lithuanian reforms set the stage for the Berlin Wall's destruction and the subsequent dissolution of the Soviet Union. Includes ABC News archival footage, interviews with newsmakers, and commentary.

"In August 1989, a group of Hungarian activists organized a picnic on the border of Hungary and Austria. But this was not an ordinary picnic--it was located on the dangerous militarized frontier known as the Iron Curtain. Tacit permission from the highest state authorities could be revoked at any moment. On wisps of rumor, thousands of East German "vacationers" packed Hungarian campgrounds, awaiting an opportunity, fearing prison, surveilled by lurking Stasi agents. The Pan-European Picnic set the stage for the greatest border breach in Cold War history: hundreds crossed from the Communist East to the longed-for freedom of the West. Drawing on dozens of original interviews--including Hungarian activists and border guards, East German refugees, Stasi secret police, and the last Communist prime minister of Hungary--Matthew Longo tells a gripping and revelatory tale of the unraveling of the Iron Curtain and the birth of a new world order. Just a few months after the Picnic, the Berlin Wall fell, and the freedom for which the activists and refugees had abandoned their homes, risked imprisonment, sacrificed jobs, family, and friends, was suddenly available to everyone. But were they really free? And why, three decades since the Iron Curtain was torn down, have so many sought once again to build walls?"-- Provided by publisher.

Twelve-year-old Andrej, nine-year-old Tomas, and their baby sister Wilma flee their Romany encampment when it is attacked by Germans during World War II, and in an abandoned town they find a zoo where the animals tell their stories, helping the children understand what has become of their lives and what it means to be free.

Captioned photos and introductory text describe historic events in Eastern Europe in 1989.

Summary: Discusses recent events in Eastern Europe, focusing on the decisive year that saw the fall of Communist governments in several countries.

Examines how it is part of the human condition to try and reconcile acts committed under former systems of thought with contemporary ideology, focusing on the attempts of the people and governments of Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic,and Slovakia to face their Communist pasts.

A first-hand description of the changes in political systems in Eastern Europe in 1989 which eliminated Communism, covering the events leading to the elections that will affect European history for years to come.

Provides an introduction to the social, cultural, economic, historical, and religious practices and beliefs of Eastern Europe.

Examines the mass murders committed by the Nazi and Stalinist regimes, describing how the killings were more widespread than many believed, and explores how those crimes influenced other events in modern history.