Ready to Fight:
Taken in December 1989 in Bucharest, Romania, it gives me the idea that this is right before the execution of Nichlae and Elena. The soldiers seem to be regular soldiers, not members of the secret police; however, I could be wrong. Reaffirming my assumption is the fact that there are plain clothes civilians standing just behind them. If it is not the same day as the execution, I am sure that it is within the week leading up to it; however, the source provides no definitive date.
http://chnm.gmu.edu/1989/items/show/576
Tessek Valasztani:
Fidesz, the Alliance of Young Democrats, created many posters in 1990 to show alternatives to the Communist Party in the elections. It is an image asking the reader (looker?) to choose between the kisses shown. One looks like it’s between two old dudes (probably communists) making out and the other looks like two young people just lovingly, innocently, kissing. It reminds me of the Anarchist Pamphlet (don’t have a link ready, sorry) section with the elephant (the old, heavy, wrinkled CP) blowing himself.
http://chnm.gmu.edu/1989/items/show/552
Polish Voting Rights:
I like the interesting take on making the ‘if the Communists lose votes, it’ll potentially make the Polish flag!’ idea. I feel that this gave even more reasons (as if you really needed any more) for the Polish to get farther away from Communism and delve into a more free government. It panders to the Polish nationalists which is important for those who potentially believe in communism but realized that it was tearing their country apart.
http://chnm.gmu.edu/1989/items/show/93
The Butcher Shop, Warsaw:
This is a hella depressing picture. As someone who eats primarily meat (that’s what she said), like the Polish, it is pathetic to see that the Communist countries could hardly provide basic necessities (toilet paper, milk, bread, eggs), let alone what they deemed delicacies (meat, etc) which are actually pretty important to a healthy diet. It goes to show how miserable life was in the Soviet Union, regarding everyday mundane things, at least.