RESEARCH IMW tape 206 austria hungary border opening and Havel becomes Czech president 1989

In 1989, significant democratic reforms swept through Europe. Hungary dismantled its border fence with Austria, allowing 60,000 people to leave, marking the beginning of the end for the Iron Curtain. In Czechoslovakia, the communist regime was ousted, and Vaclav Havel, a prominent opposition leader, was elected president. These events were pivotal in the broader movement towards democracy in Eastern Europe.

What significant action did Hungarian border guards take in September?

• They closed the border with Austria.

• They reinforced the barbed wire fence.

• They allowed people to enter Hungary.

• They dismantled the barbed wire fence.

How many people were allowed to leave Hungary after the border changes?

• 10,000

• 60,000

• 100,000

• 30,000

What does the opening of the Iron Curtain symbolize?

• The start of a new war

• The construction of new borders

• The end of communism worldwide

• The easing of restrictions in Eastern Europe

Who became the new president of Czechoslovakia after the communist regime was voted out?

• Vaclav Havel

• Mikhail Gorbachev

• Alexander Dubcek

• Lech Walesa

What was the duration of the communist regime's monopoly in Czechoslovakia before it ended?

• 30 years

• 50 years

• 41 years

• 20 years