The August Coup by Robert Service review
This brilliant account of attempts by the old guard to take back control captures the ludicrousness of it all beautifully
TL;DR
- The Soviet system collapsed rapidly in August 1991 due to its internal hollowness, mirroring the fall of Tsarism.
- Mikhail Gorbachev's reforms of perestroika and glasnost were ineffective in saving the USSR.
- The August 1991 coup, led by KGB boss Vladimir Kryuchkov, was a bureaucratic reaction to impending collapse, lacking clear strategy.
- Boris Yeltsin's defiance, communication, and public address from the White House were crucial in undermining the coup.
- The coup leaders were disorganized, plagued by infighting, fear, and alcohol, exemplified by acting president Gennady Yanayev's condition.
- Robert Service's book, 'The August Coup,' is praised for its historical accuracy, clear writing, and grasp of the chaotic events surrounding the USSR's end.
- The author recounts personal experiences in Moscow during the coup, including filming at KGB headquarters and witnessing the absurdity firsthand.
- The collapse of the Soviet Union is characterized by chaos and a lack of clear authority in its final days, ending not with a decisive struggle but with disarray.