The Five Days of August, also known as the August Coup, marked a pivotal moment in Soviet history that ultimately led to the dissolution of the USSR. This dramatic series of events unfolded from August 18-22, 1991, as hardline Communist Party members attempted to wrest control from reformist leader Mikhail Gorbachev. The coup’s failure accelerated the collapse of Soviet power and reshaped the geopolitical landscape of Eastern Europe and beyond. Understanding this crucial period provides insight into the complex forces at play during the twilight of the Soviet era and the birth of modern Russia.
Origins and political context of the five days of august
The August Coup emerged from a backdrop of growing tension between reformists and conservatives within the Soviet political establishment. Mikhail Gorbachev’s policies of perestroika (restructuring) and glasnost (openness) had unleashed forces of change that threatened the Communist Party’s monopoly on power. Economic difficulties and rising nationalist sentiments in Soviet republics further strained the system.
By mid-1991, Gorbachev was attempting to negotiate a new treaty to preserve the Soviet Union as a more decentralized federation. This prospect alarmed hardliners who feared the loss of central control and the potential breakup of the country. The stage was set for a confrontation between those seeking to preserve the old order and those embracing reform.
The coup plotters, primarily high-ranking Soviet officials, saw Gorbachev’s proposed Union Treaty as a threat to the very existence of the Soviet state. They believed that swift action was necessary to prevent the signing of this treaty and to reassert central authority. However, their actions would ultimately hasten the very outcome they sought to prevent.
Chronology of events: august 18-22, 1991
August 18: formation of the state committee on the state of emergency
On the eve of the coup, key conspirators gathered to finalize their plans. They formed the “State Committee on the State of Emergency” (GKChP), declaring themselves the new governing body of the Soviet Union. The committee included high-ranking officials such as Vice President Gennady Yanayev, KGB Chairman Vladimir Kryuchkov, and Defense Minister Dmitry Yazov.
As night fell on August 18, the plotters set their plan in motion. They dispatched forces to detain Gorbachev at his dacha in Crimea, effectively placing him under house arrest. The stage was set for a dramatic power grab that would shock the nation and the world.
August 19: gorbachev’s detention and tank deployment in moscow
The morning of August 19 brought stunning developments as the coup unfolded. Muscovites awoke to find tanks and armored vehicles in the streets, a sight reminiscent of Soviet interventions in Eastern Europe decades earlier. State television broadcast classical music and ballet performances, interspersed with terse announcements about Gorbachev’s “illness” and the formation of the emergency committee.
As news of the coup spread, resistance quickly began to form. Russian Federation President Boris Yeltsin emerged as the face of opposition, denouncing the takeover as unconstitutional. Yeltsin’s bold stance would prove crucial in rallying public support against the coup plotters.
August 20: mass protests and yeltsin’s tank speech
The second full day of the coup saw growing resistance across Moscow and other major cities. Thousands of citizens took to the streets in defiance of the emergency committee’s ban on public gatherings. The atmosphere was tense but determined, with protesters forming human chains to block the movement of tanks and armored vehicles.
In a defining moment of the crisis, Boris Yeltsin climbed atop a tank outside the Russian Parliament building (known as the White House) to deliver a rousing speech. He called on soldiers to refuse orders to use force against civilians and urged citizens to resist the “reactionary, anti-constitutional coup.” This iconic image of Yeltsin standing on the tank became a powerful symbol of defiance against the coup plotters.
The future of our country and our children is at stake. The clouds of terror and dictatorship are gathering over the whole country. They must not be allowed to bring eternal night.
August 21: failed storming of the russian white house
As the coup entered its third day, cracks began to appear in the plotters’ resolve. Their inability to decisively seize control or garner significant public support left them increasingly isolated. In a desperate move, they ordered special forces to storm the Russian White House, where Yeltsin and his supporters were based.
However, this assault never materialized. Many soldiers and officers, torn between conflicting loyalties, refused to carry out the attack. The sight of civilians placing flowers in tank barrels and engaging in dialogue with troops further eroded the will to use force. By nightfall, it was clear that the coup was unraveling.
August 22: coup collapse and aftermath
The morning of August 22 brought the coup’s swift collapse. With their plans in tatters and facing the prospect of arrest, the coup leaders fled Moscow. Gorbachev was released from detention and returned to the capital, reassuming his position as Soviet president. However, the events of the previous days had fundamentally altered the political landscape.
The failure of the coup accelerated the very processes its instigators had sought to prevent. Over the coming months, the Soviet republics would declare independence one by one, leading to the formal dissolution of the USSR by the end of the year. The Five Days of August had set in motion the final act of the Soviet Union’s existence.
Key figures in the august coup
Mikhail gorbachev: target of the coup
As the last leader of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev found himself at the center of the August events. His policies of reform had unleashed forces that ultimately led to the coup attempt. Detained at his Crimean dacha, Gorbachev was cut off from communication and unable to directly influence events. While he returned to power after the coup’s failure, his authority was severely diminished.
Boris yeltsin: face of resistance
Boris Yeltsin, President of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, emerged as the coup’s most prominent opponent. His defiant stance and charismatic leadership galvanized public resistance. Yeltsin’s actions during the crisis significantly boosted his popularity and positioned him as the dominant political figure in post-Soviet Russia.
Gennady yanayev: acting president of the USSR
As Vice President of the Soviet Union, Gennady Yanayev was nominally the leader of the coup. He declared himself Acting President, citing Gorbachev’s “inability to perform his duties due to ill health.” Yanayev’s nervous demeanor during a press conference on August 19 betrayed the plotters’ lack of confidence and resolve.
Vladimir kryuchkov: KGB chairman and coup instigator
Vladimir Kryuchkov, head of the KGB, was a key architect of the coup attempt. His agency played a central role in planning and executing the takeover. Kryuchkov’s failure to accurately assess the mood of the public and the military contributed significantly to the coup’s collapse.
International reactions and diplomatic responses
The August Coup sparked intense international concern and diplomatic activity. Western leaders, including U.S. President George H.W. Bush, initially adopted a cautious stance, emphasizing support for Gorbachev while avoiding actions that might escalate the situation. As events unfolded, however, many governments expressed clear support for the forces of democracy and reform.
The coup attempt placed particular strain on the improving U.S.-Soviet relationship that had developed under Gorbachev. President Bush maintained regular contact with Boris Yeltsin throughout the crisis, providing moral support to the resistance. This diplomatic engagement helped solidify Yeltsin’s position as a key interlocutor for the West in the coup’s aftermath.
European leaders also closely monitored the situation, with many expressing alarm at the prospect of a hardline takeover in Moscow. The coup’s failure was met with relief in Western capitals, though it also raised new questions about the future stability of the Soviet Union and its constituent republics.
Long-term consequences of the failed coup
Dissolution of the soviet union
The most immediate and far-reaching consequence of the failed August Coup was the rapid dissolution of the Soviet Union. The coup attempt had fatally undermined the authority of the central Soviet government and accelerated centrifugal forces already at work in many republics.
In the months following the coup, the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania secured international recognition of their independence. Other Soviet republics quickly followed suit, declaring their sovereignty and breaking away from Moscow’s control. By December 26, 1991, the Soviet Union had ceased to exist as a political entity, replaced by 15 independent states.
Rise of russian federation under yeltsin
The coup’s failure catapulted Boris Yeltsin to a position of unrivaled political dominance in Russia. As the Soviet Union disintegrated, Yeltsin emerged as the first democratically elected president of the newly independent Russian Federation. His administration embarked on a program of rapid economic liberalization and privatization, known as “shock therapy,” which would profoundly reshape Russian society and economics in the 1990s.
Yeltsin’s ascendancy also marked a shift in Russia’s relationship with the West. Initially celebrated as a champion of democracy, Yeltsin sought closer ties with Western nations. However, the economic turmoil and political instability of the 1990s would strain these relationships and contribute to a more complex dynamic in subsequent years.
Geopolitical shifts in eastern europe
The collapse of the Soviet Union following the August Coup led to seismic geopolitical shifts across Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Former Warsaw Pact countries accelerated their transitions to market economies and democratic political systems. Many began to seek integration with Western institutions, setting the stage for the eastward expansion of NATO and the European Union in subsequent decades.
In the newly independent former Soviet republics, the post-coup period was often marked by political instability, economic challenges, and in some cases, ethnic conflicts. The complex legacy of Soviet rule continued to shape developments in these countries long after the USSR’s dissolution.
Historical analysis and legacy of the august coup
The August Coup of 1991 stands as a watershed moment in 20th-century history, marking the effective end of the Soviet experiment and the Cold War era. Its failure demonstrated the erosion of the Communist Party’s authority and the growing power of democratic forces within Soviet society.
Historians continue to debate the coup’s broader significance and the degree to which its outcome was inevitable. Some argue that the plotters’ incompetence and lack of resolve doomed the attempt from the start. Others emphasize the crucial role of public resistance and the leadership of figures like Boris Yeltsin in thwarting the takeover.
The coup’s legacy is complex and multifaceted. While it paved the way for democratic reforms and greater freedoms in many former Soviet states, the subsequent years also brought economic hardship, political instability, and social dislocation for millions. The events of August 1991 continue to shape political discourse and national identities in Russia and other post-Soviet countries to this day.
Ultimately, the Five Days of August serve as a powerful reminder of the unpredictable nature of historical change and the capacity of individuals to shape momentous events. The courage of ordinary citizens who stood against tanks in the streets of Moscow resonates as a testament to the human desire for freedom and self-determination.