Skip to content
Maps of History Start free

Cold War · TURNING POINT ·

August Coup (1991)

On the Cold War map as “The August Coup”

19–21 Aug 1991 — Hardliners seize Gorbachev and send tanks into Moscow. Outside parliament, Yeltsin climbs onto one of them. The army refuses to fire, and the coup dissolves in 60 hours, taking the union with it.

When
Type
Turning point
Chapter
End of the Cold War (chapter 12 of Cold War)
Atlas
The Cold War, 1945–1991
Also in
Meiji Japan and post-Soviet Russia
Open this map in the interactive atlas →

Chapter 12 is included with every paid plan. WW2 is free in full, and chapter 1 of every atlas is free. A free account opens 3 more chapters a day. Starter, at $9 a month, opens all 21 with no daily limit — see the plans.

Free printable Cold War study guide, sent by email ↓

Map showing August Coup (1991), turning point in The Cold War, 1945–1991
TURNING POINT · THE COLD WAR, 1945–1991

In the same chapter

● Belovezha● Flag comes down

Related

THE FREE PRINTABLE STUDY GUIDE

Get the printable study guide for The Cold War free. I’ll send you a few short letters, then one when a new atlas opens. That’s all. — Paul

NO TRACKING · YOUR ADDRESS IS USED FOR THE DISPATCH AND NOTHING ELSE · UNSUBSCRIBE ANYTIME