Perestroika & Glasnost (The End of the Soviet Union)

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Mikhail Gorbachev becomes the leader of the Soviet Union in 1985.
His policies were centred around the idea of reforming and modernizing the Soviet Union.
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Credit:
Created by Daniel Turner
(B.A. (Hons) in History, University College London)
Narrator:
Chris Kane
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Music Credit:
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[@-socialcredit]

Fun fact: Gorbachev was the only Soviet leader to be actually born in the USSR (i.e after the Russian Empire)

[@slazeblaze319]

Gorbachev will also be the only Soviet Leader to not actually die in the USSR

[@nathanseper8738]

More seriously, he had family members who had been a victim of Stalin's excesses.

[@rageraptor7127]

@Dark Lord he was technically a hero to all. Without him life would have likely only worsened for people of both the USSR and United States and any proxy states they used to fight one another. By consolation of the USSRs faults he paved the way to a far more free world. Just because the elite of the USSR and the ignorant within the Soviet Union framed him as a traitor. He was not. He was a traitor only to those who didn’t want what he was offering or simply didn’t understand the implications without acting like their predecessors had.

[@BungieStudios]

@@rageraptor7127 Exactly. He probably saved the Russian people and the world. Look how far North Korea and Cuba have fallen since the Soviet money dried up.

[@rageraptor7127]

@@BungieStudios well Cuba isn’t as poor as other nations and actually did develop some civil liberties for its citizens while keeping an isolationist stance on almost everything related to foreign affairs until only recently. But it’s also fair to note that we don’t have much information on Cuba’s economy since they are isolated but we do have some idea of what types of policy implications they are actually placing. It’s completely different story for both Korea. We know they are suffering and we know they are very poor because they have no vital imports or exports from any other nation except relief from China who uses the nation as a buffer state. And they only threaten war for vital import trade. Not really for any other reason.

[@angrycabbage1988]

Did you get your Pizza hut? Gorbachev: Yes What did it cost? Gorbachev: Everything

[@Dumpstermuffin1]

"And than after i snap my fingers and communism is gone...i will eat pizza hut look over a grateful russia"

[@niaagustina4142]

@@Dumpstermuffin1 Soo is Gorbachev a Hero or a traitor ?

[@patrickgjorven7832]

Worth it!

[@tompegorinno5141]

@@niaagustina4142 hero

[@confitext]

@@niaagustina4142 Both

[@Simplehistory]

Gorbachev's new policies to tackle the stagnation of the USSR Perestroika = "restructuring" the Soviet Economy, almost towards capitalism Glasnost = "openness" of the USSR its censorship of media, culture, and corruption

[@beastdeas7250]

Great

[@pubgoncrack3178]

Thank you for more USSR videos.

[@batmanamicu]

Can you make a video about the Romanian Revolution

[@beastdeas7250]

Could you make a video about the power struggle in the Soviet Union after Stalins death?

[@mikeferguson1833]

Lmao dude was in a Pizza Hut commercial

[@rj5848]

McDonald’s logo- Yellow letter and red background Communist logo- Yellow hammer and sickle and red background

[@ilyanwevers7093]

Im beginging to see a patteron that i may not like

[@rj5848]

This is the first time I am getting a heart from simple history . Thank you so much

[@choppergunner8650]

Yes, there is a connection.

[@lasombra1469]

And yet when the russians tasted the food they found it weird and of course "non russian", it almost took them their entire salary to eat at a McDonald's when they recently opened

[@ushikiii]

It stimulates feeling of hunger, at least that's what my art teacher told me back in 10th grade.

[@mochawatte]

“We weren’t able to buy anything, we had money, now we have everything but we don’t have the money” a quote that accurately represents the soviet economy

[@doctorchaotic3415]

Sounds about right.

[@mochalo4912]

@@lukaj4833 kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZusaZ2to5WIptE a woman in this video said it

[@lothar3610]

@@lukaj4833 it is very famous in former eastern block countries. Author - Life.

[@stevenardian5559]

You see it rise and you see it fall

[@filmsandmovies988]

@@lukaj4833 Well noone really it is just a popular saying in most former eastern block countries.

[@brandonfarley8279]

I’d be really cool if you you did a Cold War factions series

[@mutanteggdoctor]

It Would Be Cool, I Think.

[@bishop51807]

Factions?

[@charleslisauskas9067]

You're already cool

[@CrystalHeartFaithful]

Yea

[@alexandrearaujo2877]

How about a Napoleonic Wars factions series?

[@aleksandarvil5718]

Chernobyl Disaster; Afghanistan War : _“We're About To End This Country's Whole Career.”_

[@TheSunchaster]

These are not the reasons.

[@itsve8632]

@@TheSunchaster thease are major reasons

[@furanduron4926]

They werent the only reasons but more like the last few nails in the coffin.

[@choppergunner8650]

@Igor Senkin How the USSR didn't collapse during the 1973 oil crisis is beyond me. Their economy was totally backwards, as anything a communist can provide to the people.

[@choppergunner8650]

@Igor Senkin Education NEEDED to be good. The Soviets needed rocket scientists, aeronautical design chiefs, fighter pilots, astronauts, etc. Also, the civvies had patriotism for beating Germany during WW2, but in contrast to the U.S., they sent millions after millions to die, AKA human waves. The same tactic China used in Korea, 1950.

[@JeveGreen]

"Shook hands with both Ronalds! Reagan and McDonalds, no doubt!"

[@sooryan_1018]

If your name has "in", time to get out

[@drewdurnilappreciationday1680]

You guys are man of culture

[@cristianvandenbosse8989]

EPIC RAP BATTLES OF HISTORY

[@mr.mustang656]

Did somebody say...real power?

[@eliotreader8220]

i understand that some Russians where not happy about the price of a Ham burger and a coffee at the first Mc Donalds in Russia

[@JohnnyGuiltyMan]

I was honestly shocked when I recently learned that Gorbachev is still alive. He's a very old man now but I had thought that he would have been assasinated after the fall of USSR

[@moemoe7082]

Wish he was, would’ve granted the Russian people some justice

[@LordNightCrawler]

@@moemoe7082 agreed. the man responsible for the fall of soviet union and brought russia to it's worst state at that moment. it is a good fortune that putin came to save russia and brought it back to it's former glory even thought it's not perfect but it did save russia from collapsing any further.

[@gourmetbacon5750]

@@LordNightCrawler Blame it on Yeltsin

[@LordNightCrawler]

@@gourmetbacon5750 Gorbachev started it and Yeltsin make it more even worst

[@Hasio-Maszkietnik]

@@LordNightCrawler You Russians cant shake off from that imperialist idea. You can't just move on with that.

[@saltymcsaltface]

A Russian friend once said "Glasnost was like hangover after a weekend binge"

[@garrettsattem4799]

That’s actually a really good way to put it.

[@noanyabizniz4333]

My polysci professor said it was the biggest mistake since it allowed capitalism which destroyed the nation.

[@endutubecensorship]

@@noanyabizniz4333 ok, but did your professor give an alternative to capitalism? What would your professor do for a better solution to the problem in the USSR

[@noanyabizniz4333]

@@endutubecensorship Democratic socialism with no private property.

[@endutubecensorship]

@@noanyabizniz4333 And does the concept your professor came up with sit well with you?

[@garmenlin5990]

"We are in grave danger from the capitalists" -Gorbachev, 1981

[@ardenfernandes1763]

Also Gorbachev : Let them have McDonald's Big Mac & Pizza Hut's Thick Crust.

[@cloudysoup9056]

I could imagine JFK say the same thing for communism

[@PitunghereTNOschizo100]

Still disappointed COD....I still hate that new COD Cold War.

[@jackofalltrades123]

That's right! Capatilst countries are always more stable and have bigger economic growth

[@lucadibattista4864]

@@jackofalltrades123 United States after Black Tuesday: are you sure about that?

[@paulnash6944]

When you realize the Soviet Union stood for 68 years 361 days: *We were on the verge of greatness! We were this close!*

[@bravoseis1937]

So close

[@dalliskal4827]

Soooo close

[@Pajdas610]

What are you saying?

[@bravoseis1937]

@@Pajdas610 it could have been 69 year....

[@paulnash6944]

@@Pajdas610 They almost had their 69th anniversary.

[@The_Wolf74]

RIP Gorbachev. You'll be remembered as a humble hero to save the West from future conflict from the Soviet Union. 🙏🏼

[@YukiKras]

And in Russia they will remember as the exact same enemy as Hitler.

[@winrargamer]

@@YukiKras You're Goddamn right, товарищ.

[@capastianluna8896]

Right now in the world, were two split minds with this "West to East, East to West", these ideologies must be ended, as for Nazism in the West.... I kinda starting to see part resemblance and not so much of it within the West.

[@dungeonsanddragons2049]

@@capastianluna8896 lmao the west literally funds nazis(Azov)

[@LTUDovydas]

he's no different than other USSR leaders - murderers

[@moviewolverine89]

"Science has determined that the colors red and yellow cause people to feel hungry." McDonald's logo *exists* Soviet Hammer and Sickle: "Amateur."

[@kirillassasin]

British Raj: huh noobs

[@xgamerbih]

That’s just BS

[@Visha054]

Belgium Empire: Ultra Noobs.

[@rexjolles]

@@xgamerbih no.

[@gaiusmanuel6740]

Makes sense why USSR had a famine

[@NobelTheKnave]

Pizza Hut: Exists USSR before Gorbachev: *We don’t do that here* Gorbachev after taking power: *But I do*

[@claymore484]

Kansas: good

[@aspid6546]

Pizza Hut came to Russia *way* after USSR's collapse, tho, and even now it's probably only present in Moscow and St. Petersburg

[@swampdonkey1567]

@@aspid6546 I believe in reference to him appearing in a pizza hut commercial

[@michaelhowell2326]

Funny how you made Gorbachev the same height as Reagan. In real life Reagan was much taller than Gorbachev.

[@Burvedys]

Only Yeltsin was close to Bill Clinton (and best relations with Americans). The more the gap between the Russian leader and the American, the more hostile relations.

[@dog83261]

Christ stop nitpicking every single detail lmao, practically every person in they're videos are the same height lol

[@mochalo4912]

Nobody cares

[@michaelhowell2326]

@@dog83261 it wasn't meant as nitpicking thing. I just thought it was funny.

[@michaelhowell2326]

@@mochalo4912 obviously enough to leave a comment.

[@choppergunner8650]

Remember: just because someone declares themselves as "anti-corruption", doesn't mean that they're not a communist. The USSR was totally against corruption, as it was seen as "robbing the state" , rather than robbing the people's money.

[@hiimryan2388]

This reminds me of when in medieval Europe monks got past the non talking during lunch rule by making sign language and whistling.

[@bobs_toys]

Declares or act? Declaring yourself anti corruption is standard fare amongst communists. Acting as if you're (consistently) anti corruption, however.... Well, you can still be communist, but not a safe one. At least not in a state run by a communist govt

[@freesk8]

Forcing people to live under a state monopoly of industry is itself a form of corruption.

[@JiTiAr35]

Well Somalia, the most corrupt country on earth, is also against the corruption.

[@notjustinyeetroblox9928]

Yeah sure most of all the politicians were corrupt stupid

[@Fuzz82]

I heard that Lenin tried a similar thing. He noticed a lack of support from the Russian middle class, since they weren't happy with the state taking away their businesses. There were plans to let some business owners keep their business to get their support. But he never got the chance to implement it. And Stalin threw this idea right off te table.

[@ПавелКрот-х5ы]

You heard right. It was called НЭП (NEP, short for New Economic Policy)

[@keegantripp1245]

The first manager of the Mcdonald's: "Business is booming."

[@Minboelf]

Pizza Hut:exists Russians:All hail Gorbachev

[@kairosdoe386]

*All hail Gorbachev!*

[@pofromteletubbies1243]

@@kairosdoe386 *ALL HAIL GORBACHEV*

[@martinbulavko1656]

All Hail Gorbachev!

[@Linguini2775]

All hail Gorbachev

[@moemoe7082]

Russians from that time hate Gorbachev

[@thegunslinger1363]

Here after hearing the tragic news. Rest In peace Gorbachev.

[@calthepeacelovingclover5935]

Anastasia: "Dad can we have pizza hut?" Gorbachev: "We have Pizza Hut at home." Pizza Hut at home: *Chanting* "Hail to Gorbachev!"

[@justnoob8141]

Even the commercial showing how old man and teenager arguing about him too

[@Newdivide]

Comrade Belikov, we are in grave danger from the capitalists. Our collective, our very way of life is at risk

[@diarmuiddoherty3033]

The best thing to come out of the USSR was the Gorbachev Pizza Hut commercial

[@Koala1203]

Gorbachev's Pizza Hut commercial was after the fall of USSR.

[@Dumpstermuffin1]

What about Tetris?

[@tremedar]

@@Dumpstermuffin1 You can still hear that catchy tune in hearts of iron 4.

[@sloppyoyster5779]

What?

[@Future_Doggo]

@@sloppyoyster5779 this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/nJjQYmd6Zs97i9k

[@romaniacountryball]

What a coincidence my history teacher talked about this today

[@AbrahamLincoln4]

Who would win? One Hammer and Sickle with a red background. *Or one Archy boi with a red background?*

[@OratorVeritatis]

I will Bay of Pigs you all. Except Null.

[@rickwong9049]

Farewell Mr. Gorbachev. Thanks for all the memories.

[@PerturbatorFan]

Soviet union: **Dies** Slavaboos: I didn’t hear no bell

[@spythor1281]

A thorough slap of sense may make them stop

[@PerturbatorFan]

Yeah.

[@letmechangemyusername]

And I'm guessing you are a freeboo?

[@javiermendoza9607]

@@letmechangemyusername what is a freeboo?

[@letmechangemyusername]

@@javiermendoza9607 the opposite of a slavaboo

[@Michael-lu2es]

"Shook hands with both Ronalds, Regan and McDonald's no doubt" - Mikhail Gorbachev

[@brandonbrickstudios1654]

Yes

[@frankzhang1246]

3:45 one of the reasons that simple history has become my favorite YT channel.

[@Shaosprojects]

Rest in peace Gorbachev. It's sad to see your visions for a freer state stepped on.

[@comradesocalistfromaustralia]

it worked in all states except Russia. all the other SSR's are free. but Russia is looking like the Russian empire right now

[@YukiKras]

@@comradesocalistfromaustralia fortunately, since the days of the USSR, many good things have remained in Russia, including nuclear weapons, for example.

[@comradesocalistfromaustralia]

@@YukiKras the nuclear weapons where in ukraine and a deal was made to give the bombs to russia russia is a great country but in my opinon i dont like putin and what he is doing

[@YukiKras]

@@comradesocalistfromaustralia Putin is not a single personality, on the one hand he defeated the problems of Russia in the 90s, on the other hand, he slowly but surely destroyed education and dragged him into a "special military operation".

[@ПавелКрот-х5ы]

​@@comradesocalistfromaustraliaReally? You mean Turkmenistan is a free nation?

[@JnSobre]

Your new sponsor is one of the few adds that interest me, since I started to watch KZbin :)

[@masongohman2773]

This is actually really interesting. I’ve always wondered how it all happened and this video explained it well. Kudos to Simple History 💛

[@goldmunds]

My Grandparents lived in that period. They watched the USSR collapse and the end of the Red Terror. They watched how us Latvians got freedom.

[@Burvedys]

While they just watched, we did it! :)

[@internetcrusades4316]

Give me Robux please

[@warshipproductions6103]

@@lukaj4833 “There is no freedom, just a bigger prison.” By someone I forgot

[@choppergunner8650]

God bless any country that suffered or still suffers from communism. Must have been an incredible moment knowing that your country isn't going to be oppressed anymore.

[@vascotank2143]

@@lukaj4833 so Latvia being apart of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a military organization, is comparable to the annexation of Latvia and integration into the USSR, which saw major repression, deportations, killings and soviet control of the country with the interests of the RSFSR in mind? Are you kidding me?

[@Doping1234]

He claimed that had he played his cards right he could still be leading the USSR. Given that the PRC survived I'm inclined to believe him.

[@michaelhowell2326]

Damn, that intro is scary. Sounds awfully familiar to today's problems in US.

[@imprtyepic7152]

Wdym

[@mr.jimmeh]

You couldnt be more correct

[@nageshwaranrahul]

Read about how Hitler came into power, you might get scared even more.

[@TheSunchaster]

Ловите бумеранг

[@bishop51807]

That commercial?

[@John.McMillan]

This is the first time I have both watched a full ad on a video and got the app. Cheers.

[@nickbutler6842]

ground news actually seems like a rad idea for an app a better way to read the news. thank you youtube sponsor (something I thought id never say)

[@claypidgeon2808]

This is the first time I actually downloaded something based on a youtube sponsor. Just wish simple history had a referral code.

[@lmillenium8819]

"If your name end with in, time to get out!!!" -Gorbachev

[@happyalltheday2275]

Putin why he no ou-

[@farlow1798]

Gorbachev was frankly the best leader the USSR had seen in a long time, and despite still not being the best, was not a brutal oppressor like other USSR leaders

[@МаксВолк-р3д]

They don't like him in Russia

[@uzef73]

My soviet Ukraine born mom says Gorbachev was the only decent soviet leader, because she fucking hated communism lmfao

[@LTUDovydas]

lithuania: totally not an oppressor

[@michaelex256]

Stalin: “and I took that personally”

[@wazzup233]

I thought it was Khrushchev.

[@hawkeyeten2450]

He definitely would. Gorbachev literally let Stalin be vilified and portrayed as a murderer in the USSR by the late 80s.

[@relaxationstation7374]

Thank You For Having The Totally Unparalleled Courage To Save All Of Our Lives Mr. Gorbachev! The Modern World has in fact, unknowingly, suffered an extremely enormous loss! Mikhail Gorbachev was an extremely corageous man, he flatout put his life on the line, against the Soviet Hardliners who wanted to neutralize him, to bring down the Berlin Wall, Disdolve The Soviet Union and most importantly to Totally Reverse Extremely Deadly Nuclear Proliferation! Modern Russians might not appreciate Mr Gorbachev so much but, as a global populace Mikhail Gorbachev represents the 2nd time that Russia had the courage to save the world from a deadly militant threat, First in the form of hyper-miltant global Nazism and Second in the form of exponentially more deadly Nuclear Proliferation! Mr. Gorbachev was a real public servant of the like that absolutely does not exist today in a world where we have Political Self-servants who don't give a single millisecond of thought to public service. Mr. Gorbachev didn't just wake up one day and decide to disdolve The Soviet Union, he toured as much of the huge Soviet Union as he could to get the people's opinion about what kind of country, world, and block they wanted to live in and the overwhelming feedback that he got back from the Soviet People, whom still remebered the untold horrors of World War 2, was that They Absolutely Did Not Want Another World War so, Mr. Gorbechov decided to do the unthinkable and dissolve a primary part of the nuclear threat and thereby largely precipitated the nuclear threat's collapse. Today, there aren't totally inconceivably hardcore, totally dedicated politicians who have the courage to do this! Black people don't believe in fear because being afraid is far too dangerous but at a time when global superpowers possessed enough weapons to kill every man, woman and child on Earth 1,000 times over again Mikhail Gorbachev bought modern civilization some time and took a great amount of fear out of ordinary people's lives and for that, "We should all be eternally thankful to Mikhail "Gorby" Gorbachev!"

[@verucasalt6519]

What a beautiful and moving tribute to Mr. Gorbachev. I grew up in the 80s and I remember that the threat of a nuclear holocaust seemed tangible and at times inevitable. I agree with you that there are not many politicians alive today if any that possess his courage. Doing the right thing is never easy.

[@gottalivehappy]

He didn't disslove it though. That was Boris Yeltsin.

[@Xaiff]

"Corruption was common in communist Soviet" Was that the pun?

[@amir3508]

*Ahh Cccp*

[@deepfriedwater7625]

In conclusion, the big mac brings nations together.

[@indonesianbassbooster5167]

Or in this case, break a country up

[@pekkaseppala3999]

The succulent gift of heart disease and diabeetus. Better make that coke a diet one! ;)

[@shino4833]

don't forget the pizza hut commercial

[@freesk8]

Free trade tends to bring peace. It makes no sense to attack a good customer, or a good supplier. There has never been a war between two nations that both had a McDonalds.

[@firepower7017]

Party Member: We are against the reforms! Everyone else: *Sleeping*

[@pekkaseppala3999]

Yeah. The animation gives a dumb picture of the era.

[@overloadninety9226]

There was no fear of ‘gulags’ when Gorbachev was in. Kruschev dismantled the gulags

[@rayh6118]

They still exist until now but the post Stalin ussr used psychratrick hospitals instead

[@user-yp9vj7]

You don’t care about the number of innocent people imprisoned in America right now. And also the sometimes dire conditions in private prisons?

[@catzor4795]

@@user-yp9vj7 ????

[@capncake8837]

@@rayh6118 And also penal colonies, apparently.

[@hawkeyeten2450]

Interesting fact though: one of the first things Gorbachev let become more widely known after easing media censorship was the extent of many of Stalin's crimes, including the Great Purge (this happened around 1988). There was even a "Wall of Sorrow" set up in honor of Stalin's victims.

[@obitwokenobi9808]

Who's here after Gorbachev died?

[@Wickedninja7878]

RIP Gorbachev :(

[@YukiKras]

to what sadness, one traitor of the country became less

[@supermario5849]

I just heard today that Gorbachev finally passed away at age 91.

[@erwin9065]

this man deserves his Nobel Peace Prize.

[@lightningstrike5024]

you shouldnt get a peace prize for destroying a country

[@LTUDovydas]

for what

[@SyndicateSuperman]

RIP Mikhail Gorbachev. Dead on 30 August 2022 at age 91.

[@miguelmontenegro3520]

Blamed for the fall of the Soviet Union. Bring this man a medal.

[@rejvaik00]

"Yoink! I'll take that" - Boris Yeltsin

[@goldmunds]

Gorbachev needs a medal.

[@wazzup233]

He'd already had from the Nobel Committee.

[@polarops9976]

Hi Simple History, I have been watching your videos for 3 years now and I really enjoy them. I know that it takes you a long time to make a good video since ideas are really hard to get. I do not know what is on your agenda but if you ever need an idea try doing something like Strange Stories: How a flying monk (how Saint Padre Pio) stopped a allied bombing run from bombing his monastery.

[@itsascam9940]

Car brand CEO: why cant we sell the car cheap The goverment: its not your bussines, its ours

[@itsascam9940]

Just like soviet union, my englis is started collapsing to :/

[@Unfirst.]

Fun fact: the word “glasnost” and “perestroika”, were used in an episode, in a series called Pingu.

[@CivilWarWeekByWeek]

Not the McDonalds add my heart can’t take it

[@AbrahamLincoln4]

The only real yellow with red flag.

[@Cliff_Dixon_42]

The First *and LAST* McDonald's to open in the Soviet Union. The next one opened in Russia.

[@bacnguyen9304]

What came after were even worse for Russia than before. Yeltsin created the oligarchs , tanks fired right in the middle of Moscow , the war in Chechnya and the economy was non existence . Russia was bullied into submission by the West , NATO rock right up on to its border and set up missile silos in impunity . Russia was neither rich nor democratic , the US interfered in the Russia election in 96 helping Yeltsin remained in power although he was unpopular. The West showed its true face after the collapse , they never want a strong Russia and will never want to peacefully co-exist with Russia . Luckily they didn't expect such a leader like Putin and Russia really comeback hard during the early 2000s.

[@hawkeyeten2450]

As an American myself, I believe I speak for a number of westerners when I say I long for Russia to be truly free and prosperous. Our politicians were admittedly overly aggressive with NATO expansion goals and on other issues (I personally feel nations like Ukraine should be neutral like Austria or Sweden), but Russia sadly is run by absolute crooks and criminals who care little about the people and a lot about increasing their own power by any means possible (inside and outside of the country). Yeltsin was a tragic joke and Putin's a fascist tyrant. The Russian people after decades if not centuries of suffering and tyranny deserve much better. I hope in my heart the Russian people somehow throw off the garbage that stains their remarkable land and culture, successfully build a democracy, and truly join us in freedom and glory. Maybe we could then unite to bring down China's murderous government and allow their people to also grow powerful and prosperous, free of evil dictatorship. It is my hope and prayer that somehow through the power of God, these things begin to happen.

[@sallyhansen7968]

Like sponsor this week, Ground News actually sounds useful

[@cyberglitcher4659]

news studying the ground

[@cannonf_odder3041]

Imagine being first. Wait that’s you

[@Superlegend56]

How did ya manage to get 16 minutes early lol

[@HogBurger]

“Let’s make good living conditions for the people.” “No.” “Hey I’m gonna dissolve our Union that’s existed for 70(?) years” “Ok.”

[@RNKel1]

Bots 🙄

[@bigmoniesponge]

@@RNKel1 yeah I hate bots.

[@HogBurger]

Bots are gone. I’ll delete my first reply.

[@bigmoniesponge]

@@HogBurger lots prey that they were kicked from youtube. F O R E V E R

[@itstommymate]

I like it how I was watching videos about Mikhail Gorbachev yesterday and all of a sudden you guys made a video about him lmao

[@RocksFan]

The policies Gorbachev introduced should have been introduced 10-15 years earlier. Then maybe the USSR would be still alive today.

[@drewdurnilappreciationday1680]

Gorbachev loved Russia so much he now lives in Germany

[@YJB8CCFC]

Here after the passing of Gorbachev. Looks like Putin wants to create a soviet state again, undoing all of Gorbachevs hard work. RIP

[@Shaosprojects]

I can only imagine how he felt in his final days, seeing all he wanted trampled upon.

[@YukiKras]

Putin's desire for communism is not very visible

[@collinstrickland7565]

Putin's just a personalist autocrat. He's no different from Viktor Orban or any other current dictator. Everything he does is no different than other autocracies (e.g Autocratic elections), he's just really good at it. He definitely is not interested in communism, he just wants to stay in power.

[@aleppthehistorylover]

He's a great leader and I admire him for what he had done. RIP Mikhail Gorbachev, you will always be remembered...

[@LTUDovydas]

you admire his murders?

[@coper2098]

I never really bothered to learn this on my own, thanks for making this!

[@GlamorousTitanic21]

RIP Comrade Gorbachev

[@kingofcards9]

Just learned this in history class today. What a lucky upload.

[@xgamerbih]

Remember kids: your western teachers are extremly biased and tell you propaganda!

[@kingofcards9]

All teachers are biased

[@Z0MB13R0T]

everyone just gonna ignore how he breaths in cigarette smoke but never exhale?

[@dennisalexanderson6975]

Rip Gorby, you were the only normal leader that Soviet and Russia ever had

[@michaelflores791]

An actual pretty cool sponsor on this video! Will check it out to support the channel!

[@lennykump8396]

3:41 when my grandfather was sleeping on a routinely meeting of the SED in 1989 while someone have a presentation, he was yelled at by a functionary and threatened that he'd have to give the next presentation. He left the scene. At the next meeting other regular members were walking around with clipboards, asking who'd want to leave. It was the last meeting he'd take part of.

[@proletariennenaturiste]

Gorbachev wasn't opposed to communism or a communist approach, he just wanted to make things better, in some ways he did, some ways he did the opposite.

[@doravisky6482]

Very nice video! Love the script.

[@jcdenton7891]

If the reforms were implemented at an earlier date perhaps the Soviet Union might still be standing, but alas we can only imagine, I myself can see many similarities between the late Soviet Union and America right now in terms of economic inequality and political corruption.

[@agile564]

K you guys have so many videos I can just look up an event somewhere and you have a video it seems this is why I love this channel.

[@bradley8575]

McDonnelds was in the Soviet Union for barly over a Year

[@LuinTathren]

And?

[@ilyanwevers7093]

USA more like burger

[@lasombra1469]

And Gorbachev appeared in a pizza hut ad

[@slogyourgrogyouoldseadog]

@@lasombra1469 wait what, that sounds fucking hilarious, can I get the link?

[@lasombra1469]

@@slogyourgrogyouoldseadog kzbin.info/www/bejne/nJjQYmd6Zs97i9k here you go

[@comradesocalistfromaustralia]

Rest In Peace Comrade

[@edwardmarriott-smith5052]

When Simple history makes a video about Russia: VODKA FLOOR! VODKA FLOOR! FLOOOORR OF VODKA!

[@johnrandolph1989]

Nicolai is very thirsty after killing zombies.

[@ultimatevictory6522]

Great content as always Simple History.

[@MASRIDER777]

“If your name starts with in time to get out” -Gorbachev

[@sml2k186]

Rest In Peace comrade Gorbachev

[@lol311]

This legend has died today.

[@AngryArab405]

Yes an new simple history vid thank god I am no longer bored

[@Bigchilezlife]

Do “The Battle of Alcatraz” it would be aswome!!

[@dalliskal4827]

I've been waiting for it

[@realdragao6367]

USSR: alright guys, this “capitalism” thing sounds appealing, i’ll apply it MINIMALLY to test it out USSR: *fucking collapses*

[@dem0nchild610]

I'm very interested in your sponsor for today and will definitely check them out thank you.

[@rometpoolakese3634]

The detail on everything is INSANE

[@shadowtrooper262]

I kinda wonder what life and economy was like for Soviet's neighbours such as China, Vietnam or North Korea in the 80s. They seem less talked about.

[@garrywallah4966]

Mikhail Gorbache... Now that is an haircut you can set your watch to

[@andreasbonaparte8171]

The Russian citizen: He is a traitor!! East German Citizen: He is a Messiah!!!!

[@user-yp9vj7]

Right

[@PitunghereTNOschizo100]

What a irony

[@SamB3200]

I always love to come home to a new simple history video!

[@nursejoshua9081]

Rest in eternal peace Legend

[@YukiKras]

Gorbachev is not legend. Gorbachev is an enemy of the people.

[@collinstrickland7565]

@@YukiKras Gorbachev ended an already failing system prematurely. There was virtually 0 percent chance of the USSR recovering from the oil decline of 1986, and the republics were getting more independent by the day. People would have inevitably found about western consumerism whether or not glasnost ever happened, there would have been widespread rebellion at some point. At best they might have been able to keep it going another decade or so. Maybe if Lenin and every Soviet leader that followed actually stuck to the original ideologies of egalitarianism then they could have stood a better chance, but human greed is too powerful apparently.

[@YukiKras]

@@collinstrickland7565 unfortunately, yes, the course has changed since Khrushchev.

[@BigHeartMusicOfficial]

And despite all of these reforms, Reagan took the opportunity to grandstand over the berlin wall and humiliate Gorbachev for his own political gain, even though those walls were imminently coming down anyway. This led to a decline of russian reform once Gorbachev started to be perceived as weak at home. If Reagan had thrown him a bone, we probably wouldn’t have Putin today. Meanwhile, Reagan took that opportunity to spike incomes and lower taxes in the short term, not caring about whether that would gut middle-class income in the longterm. He blew the doors of private interests wide open for Americans and also stifled Russia’s ability to become a healthy democratic economy. I really think this led to a dramatic and unhealthy polarization of politics at home and abroad.

[@rumourhats]

Interesting analysis.

[@JakeTheBikerDude]

I came here to watch this again because of Mikhail Gorbachev's death.

[@Kyle-jc8no]

4:44 Oh Look it's Charkov.

[@micahbelI]

“If people didn’t make mistakes, they would never be good enough” - One good person

[@weeeper1]

Wooooo, I’m early! Great vid Simple History!

[@funnyfrog1149]

"Yo I'm the host with the most Glasnost, assholes made a mess and the War got cold!"

[@CuddlyViv]

Gorbachev was a great man