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Listen "Episode 437: CHY4U - RST - The Rise and Fall of the Eastern Bloc (1945-89)"
Episode Synopsis
In this episode, Grade 12 Student Liam Short takes a deep dive into the rise and fall of the Communist Eastern Bloc from 1945 to
1989 and beyond. In this episode, Liam will cover several Eastern Bloc countries and their
history; a brief Pros and Cons list of being part of the Eastern bloc; World Views; Ways of Protest
against the Soviets; Economic Stability; and lastly how it ended and the effects of its collapse.
This episode was researched and produced by Liam for his CHY4U World History RST.
Sources used for this episode:
“The GDR - what life was like for people in East Germany from 1949 to 1990.”
deutschland.de, 4 March 2025, https://www.deutschland.de/en/topic/culture/gdr-
east-germany. Accessed 30 May 2025.
Institute of National Remembrance. “Brief History of Poland.” Institute of National
Remembrance, eng.ipn.gov.pl/en/brief-history-of-poland#1945.
Research Guides: Polish-American Relations, 1918 to Present: Manuscript
Resources at the Library of Congress: A Brief Timeline of Modern Polish History.
guides.loc.gov/poland-manuscripts/timeline.
History | Embassy of the Czech Republic in Ottawa.
mzv.gov.cz/ottawa/en/general_information_on_the_czech/history/index.html.
“Hungary.” Hungary | Communist Crimes,
communistcrimes.org/en/countries/hungary.
Alphahistory. “Romania Under Ceausescu.” The Cold War, 21 Mar. 2018,
alphahistory.com/coldwar/romania-under-ceausescu.
“Bulgaria.” Bulgaria | Communist Crimes,
communistcrimes.org/en/countries/bulgaria.
Milestones in the History of U.S. Foreign Relations - Office of the Historian.
history.state.gov/milestones/1961-1968/soviet-invasion-czechoslavkia.
Nelsson, Richard. “The Birth of Solidarity in Poland - Archive 1980.” The
Guardian, 10 Nov. 2021,
www.theguardian.com/world/from-the-archive-blog/2019/sep/18/the-birth-of-
solidarity-in-poland-archive-1980.
“Eastern Europe - Econlib.” Econlib, 27 May 2022,
www.econlib.org/library/Enc/EasternEurope.html.
“Romania Thirty Years After the Fall of Communism: Retrospect and Prospect.”
Training Leaders International, trainingleadersinternational.org/jgc/120/romania-
thirty-years-after-the-fall-of-communism-retrospect-and-prospect.
---. “The Fall of Communism in Romania – Archive, December 1989.” The
Guardian, 11 Dec. 2024, www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/11/the-fall-of-
communism-in-romania-archive-december-1989.
British Broadcasting Corporation. BBC World Service - Special Reports - 1989
Timeline. 6 Oct. 2009,
www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/specialreports/2009/10/091006_1989_timeline_nonf
lash.shtml?utm.
British Broadcasting Corporation. BBC World Service - Special Reports - 1989
Timeline. 6 Oct. 2009, www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/specialreports/2009/10/091006_1989_timeline_nonf
lash.shtml?utm.
Academic Block. “Fall of Soviet Union: Collapse, Cold War and Timeline |
Academic Block.” Academic Block, 29 Jan. 2025,
www.academicblock.com/history/cold-war/fall-of-soviet-union?utm.
Rimi, Aisha. “A Timeline of the Gorbachev Era and the Collapse of the Soviet
Union.” The Independent, 31 Aug. 2022,
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/gorbachev-death-soviet-union-
collapse-timeline-b2156330.html?utm.
“Consequences of the Collapse of the Soviet Union.” Norwich University - Online,
online.norwich.edu/online/about/resource-library/consequences-collapse-soviet-
union.
1989 and beyond. In this episode, Liam will cover several Eastern Bloc countries and their
history; a brief Pros and Cons list of being part of the Eastern bloc; World Views; Ways of Protest
against the Soviets; Economic Stability; and lastly how it ended and the effects of its collapse.
This episode was researched and produced by Liam for his CHY4U World History RST.
Sources used for this episode:
“The GDR - what life was like for people in East Germany from 1949 to 1990.”
deutschland.de, 4 March 2025, https://www.deutschland.de/en/topic/culture/gdr-
east-germany. Accessed 30 May 2025.
Institute of National Remembrance. “Brief History of Poland.” Institute of National
Remembrance, eng.ipn.gov.pl/en/brief-history-of-poland#1945.
Research Guides: Polish-American Relations, 1918 to Present: Manuscript
Resources at the Library of Congress: A Brief Timeline of Modern Polish History.
guides.loc.gov/poland-manuscripts/timeline.
History | Embassy of the Czech Republic in Ottawa.
mzv.gov.cz/ottawa/en/general_information_on_the_czech/history/index.html.
“Hungary.” Hungary | Communist Crimes,
communistcrimes.org/en/countries/hungary.
Alphahistory. “Romania Under Ceausescu.” The Cold War, 21 Mar. 2018,
alphahistory.com/coldwar/romania-under-ceausescu.
“Bulgaria.” Bulgaria | Communist Crimes,
communistcrimes.org/en/countries/bulgaria.
Milestones in the History of U.S. Foreign Relations - Office of the Historian.
history.state.gov/milestones/1961-1968/soviet-invasion-czechoslavkia.
Nelsson, Richard. “The Birth of Solidarity in Poland - Archive 1980.” The
Guardian, 10 Nov. 2021,
www.theguardian.com/world/from-the-archive-blog/2019/sep/18/the-birth-of-
solidarity-in-poland-archive-1980.
“Eastern Europe - Econlib.” Econlib, 27 May 2022,
www.econlib.org/library/Enc/EasternEurope.html.
“Romania Thirty Years After the Fall of Communism: Retrospect and Prospect.”
Training Leaders International, trainingleadersinternational.org/jgc/120/romania-
thirty-years-after-the-fall-of-communism-retrospect-and-prospect.
---. “The Fall of Communism in Romania – Archive, December 1989.” The
Guardian, 11 Dec. 2024, www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/11/the-fall-of-
communism-in-romania-archive-december-1989.
British Broadcasting Corporation. BBC World Service - Special Reports - 1989
Timeline. 6 Oct. 2009,
www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/specialreports/2009/10/091006_1989_timeline_nonf
lash.shtml?utm.
British Broadcasting Corporation. BBC World Service - Special Reports - 1989
Timeline. 6 Oct. 2009, www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/specialreports/2009/10/091006_1989_timeline_nonf
lash.shtml?utm.
Academic Block. “Fall of Soviet Union: Collapse, Cold War and Timeline |
Academic Block.” Academic Block, 29 Jan. 2025,
www.academicblock.com/history/cold-war/fall-of-soviet-union?utm.
Rimi, Aisha. “A Timeline of the Gorbachev Era and the Collapse of the Soviet
Union.” The Independent, 31 Aug. 2022,
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/gorbachev-death-soviet-union-
collapse-timeline-b2156330.html?utm.
“Consequences of the Collapse of the Soviet Union.” Norwich University - Online,
online.norwich.edu/online/about/resource-library/consequences-collapse-soviet-
union.
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