By October 1990, the Berlin Wall had been torn down and East and West Germany were reunited
The new German state was permitted to become a part of NATO
Throughout 1990-1991, many of the republics that made up the USSR began to demand independence
Gorbachev had no choice but to let the USSR break up
August 1991 - a group of hard-line communists attempt to overthrow Gorbachev and failed
With the USSR finished, Gorbachev was too
December 1991- Gorbachev, in a televised speech, announced his resignation and the end of the Soviet Union