CHRONOLOGY-Communism's fall around eastern Europe

(This is part of a series on youth in post-Communist Europe)

March 21 (Reuters) - Today they are 18 years old.

In 1989 when the young generation was born, communist regimes fell all over eastern Europe. Here is a chronology of the fall of former communist regimes including the Soviet Union:

POLAND:

-- Feb 2, 1989 - Communist authorities begin talks with Lech Walesa and banned pro-democracy Solidarity movement on power sharing and democratic reform. Talks end in April with landmark deal on partially free elections. Events stir the entire bloc.

-- June 4 - Solidarity overwhelmingly wins elections, taking all eligible seats in parliament. Solidarity-led government takes power in Poland in September.

EAST GERMANY:

Sept. 11, 1989 - Hungary opens border with Austria to allow departure of East German refugees. More than 30,000 eventually reach West in first big exodus of East Germans since 1961.

-- Oct 7 - East Germany's 40th anniversary overshadowed by anti-government protests. Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev tells his East German host, Stalinist boss Erich Honecker: "Life punishes those who delay."

-- Oct 18 - Honecker resigns, replaced by Egon Krenz, who promises reform. Protests continue.

-- Nov 9 - East Germany opens Berlin Wall in desperate bid to placate people. Reform Communist Hans Modrow appointed prime minister days later.

-- March 18, 1990 - Free elections, ruling Communists lose majority. In October, Germany is reunified and the communist German Democratic Republic ceases to exist.

CZECHOSLOVAKIA:

-- Nov 20/21, 1989 - Two days of demonstrations culminate with more than 200,000 people jammed into Wenceslas Square, cheering Roman Catholic Primate Cardinal Frantisek Tomasek who declares: "We cannot wait any more."

-- Nov 23 - Former leader Alexander Dubcek addresses rally in Bratislava in first political speech since he was ousted in 1968. Army says it will defend socialism.

-- Nov 24 - Dubcek tells more than 300,000 people in Prague his ideal of "socialism with a human face" is still alive in the minds of new generation. After day-long crisis session Communist Party leader Milos Jakes steps down.

HUNGARY:

-- May 1988 - Janos Kadar, leader since 1956, ousted from Political Committee of ruling communist party with others.

-- Jan 1989 - Parliament passes law allowing formation of parties. Talks between democratic parties and government start in June.

-- June 16 - Quarter of a million Hungarians attend reburial of Imre Nagy, prime minister executed for his role in 1956 anti-Soviet uprising: mounting pressure on the government to allow free elections.

-- March 25, 1990 - First democratic elections bring democratic opposition to power.

ROMANIA:

-- Dec 22-25, 1989 - Communist leader Nicolae Ceausescu executed in popular anti-communist revolt. First government of National Salvation Front (NSF) formed.

BULGARIA:

-- Nov 3, 1989 - More than 4,000 Bulgarians join Eco-glasnost march in Sofia in first unofficial public protest for 40 years.

-- Nov 10 - Bulgaria's Todor Zhivkov, Eastern Europe's longest-serving leader, resigns as Communist Party chief and head of state.

-- Feb 2 1990 - Government resigns after opposition parties refuse to join coalition until free elections.

SOVIET UNION:

-- Dec 3, 1991 - Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, increasingly distraught, warns disintegration of Soviet Union would be catastrophe for country and world, raises spectre of ethnic bloodshed.

-- Dec 8 - Russia, Byelorussia (Belarus) and Ukraine create Commonwealth of Independent States and declare Soviet Union no longer exists as legal or political entity.

-- Dec 18 - Russian President Boris Yeltsin meets Gorbachev and says they agreed all remaining Soviet structure would be wound up by year-end.

-- Dec 21 - Eight more republics join the commonwealth.

-- Dec 25 - Gorbachev announces his resignation.