Why Poland Fell First (The Domino Effect Explained) | Sarah Paine скачать в хорошем качестве

Why Poland Fell First (The Domino Effect Explained) | Sarah Paine

This video reveals why the Soviet Empire and Communist rule in Eastern Europe did not collapse because of war, NATO tanks, or Western diplomacy—but because of a fatal loss of legitimacy. The true domino that triggered the fall of the Iron Curtain began in Poland in June 1989, when a rigged election backfired catastrophically. By legally rejecting Communist leaders at the ballot box, Polish voters proved that the regime no longer represented the people, shattering the illusion that sustained Communist power. That realization spread rapidly across Eastern Europe in a phenomenon known as democratic contagion. In East Germany, mass protests erupted after citizens recognized that the regime no longer had the confidence—or the Soviet backing—to use force. When fear vanished, the system collapsed with astonishing speed. The fall of the Berlin Wall was not planned or negotiated; it was triggered by confusion, bureaucratic failure, and a single misread statement broadcast live on television. As Moscow watched in silence, the Soviet leadership realized its Eastern European allies were no longer assets but liabilities—economically bankrupt, politically unstable, and militarily unreliable. The Cold War did not end with a treaty or a battle. It ended when ordinary citizens withdrew legitimacy from a system built on fear, proving that ideas can dismantle empires faster than armies ever could. #professoralpha #ColdWar #SovietUnion #BerlinWall #Solidarity #Communism #EasternEurope