To Save the Soviets: Russia's Last Communist Coup Attempt

The Soviet Union was one of the defining institutions of the 20th century. From the overthrow of the Tsar in 1917, to the second World War, to the Cold War, Space Race, and long, slow decline, the overarching story of the 1900s is, in many ways, the Soviet Union’s story.

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[okphalmer]

Most of the soviet officers during the coup refused to open fire on the protesters. One exception was Captain Sergey Surovikin whose troops shot 3 protesters. Aftermath in the early 1990's Russia those killed protesters were celebrated as heroes and martyrs of the democracy. It is pretty ironic (or fitting) that their killer General Surovikin is now the commander of the Russian invasion forces in Ukraine and the official state media hails him as the great Russian hero.

[michaelsinger]

It’s fascinating how Yeltsin came out of this looking like a big hero.

And then how badly things would fall apart later on with him.

[huwenkai]

Well, this is when a coup went wrong.

I remembered my grandpa talked about the Soviet coup when he was in Shanghai. And he predicted that whatever happened to the coup, the remaining communist nations will never be the same again. Indeed, this occurred. Russia's communist coup in 1991 proved to be a decisive point, this forced remaining communist autocrats like in China and Vietnam to increasing the use of secret police and enhancing domestic propaganda aimed at legitimising the party, as well as promoting communist-based patriotic education. In reality, they wanted to avoid a similar coup, even when that Russian coup in 1991 was communist-based. Ironic.

[cavalryscout]

I was stationed with US forces in Germany when this all happened. It caused a bit of a panic because even though Germany was united, there were still Soviet troops (who weren't getting paid) in the eastern part, and no one knew what those troops were going to do. My unit drew weapons and prepped out vehicles to move; we ran our engines every hour or two and had to stay within 15 minute of the motorpool until the coup ended as NATO kept very careful watch on those Soviet bases.

We didn't know at the time how little working equipment the Soviets actually had, and we couldn't know whether those troops might try to force their way back to Russia.

[ignitionfrn]

1:40 - Chapter 1 - Backdrop
4:00 - Chapter 2 - Conspirators
7:10 - Chapter 3 - Coup
10:00 - Chapter 4 - Failure
12:55 - Chapter 5 - Repercussions
15:55 - Chapter 6 - Aftermath

[randompillow]

I love how this channel covers less talked about but still very interesting events.

[just_another_nerd]

Thank you, Simon, for telling the story. I was a little girl in a small town in USSR when this happened. I remember that well because it was the first time when ppl in a queue for bread were talking to each other. Oh those infamous soviet queues... As a child it was a part of my daily shores to stand through the bread queue. Usually it was a silent affair but that day the queue was buzzing with excitement, ppl repeating rumors that Gorbachev is dead, etc. In hindsight, it was a mistake to pardon the "putchists". Perhaps, there was a chance to turn history to a better path if only in the aftermath of the failed coup d'etat there were real changes: elimination of KGB as an institution, opening of all KGB archives for study, lustration for party officials, prison time for criminals like Surovikin. BTW, it is a pity Simon doesn't mention him: Surovikin is responsible for deaths of three demonstrators in August 1991. Surovikin walked free back then and now we know him as a butcher of Aleppo and one of those responsible for indiscriminate bombing of Ukranian cities as he was appointed to lead the invasion of Ukraine in October 2022.

[paulgoodridge]

I have to give mad respect to Gorbachev typically leaders in his position when they lose power they lose their heads with their power. He is the exception and that is why I have mad respect for him.

[Freebird]

I don’t know if you guys have done this on another channel, but in some relation to this video, could you guys do a video on the attempted coup that happened in Japan in the final days of WW2?

[mse]

It’s poetic That the premiere That brought down the Soviet Union was the only premiere Born in the Soviet Union rather than the empire

[ExUSSailor]

I remember watching this live, on the news. I can still picture Boris Yeltsin standing on top of a tank outside the Kremlin.

[deviusprojects]

Man, I love your voice. I'd listen to you talk about anything. Cheers

[davidtaylor]

I remember after the coup leaders fled, a faux commercial appeared on television where a supposed reporter followed by a bouncing camera ran across a tarmac toward a group of eight men queing up to board a jet: "Comrades! Your coup has failed and the people are demanding freedom! Where are you going?" And in unison the men turned toward the camera, donned Mickey Mouse caps and replied, "We're going to Disneyland!'

[Sh_rib]

You've previously done a video on the Russo-Japanese war, can we get a video about the Battle of Tsushima specifically please? 👍

[BaneofBots]

I love the irony of situations such as this. Attempting to prevent something almost always brings it about.

[luisbarrasabengoa]

A really interesting topic to cover in a video would be the 23 of February of 1981 Coup in Spain

[yourroyalchungusness]

It still blows my mind that fortunately this was a bloodless coup. Imagine if this had gone in different way

[CallieMasters]

Gorbachev was hanging out at Dachau?! 😳 You come up with the weirdest stuff, Simon!

[Contrajoe]

It's so strange that Kino/Victor Tsoi recorded "Zvezda" AND "Konchitsya Leto" shortly before this played out. Tsoi died in August 1990 but these songs (along with "Mama, we're all very sick") would describe what was to come.

[DearsGreece]

I am a huge fan of your channels, Simon. Thank you and your team for all the hard work and research. Tiny correction regarding the word Dacha) The ch sounds like the ch in change. Cheers!