It was 20 years ago this fall when cracks developed in the Iron Curtain as refugees from Eastern European communist states began fleeing to the West.  The disintegration eventually culminated in fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989 and the later dissolution of the Soviet Union.

To commemorate this watershed moment in history, DePaul University’s history and religious studies departments will sponsor a series of free public lectures this fall.

On Sept. 21 at 6 p.m., Padraic Kenney, author and professor of history at Indiana University, will discuss “1989 as a World Historical Moment.”  Kenney documented the experience of workers in early communist Poland in “A Carnival of Revolution” (2002).

His latest book, “1989: Democratic Revolutions at the Cold War’s End,” will be published in December. The lecture will be held in Room 108 of McGowan South, 1110 W. Belden Ave., Chicago.  For additional information, e-mail history@depaul.edu or call (773) 325-7470.

On Oct. 5 at 6 p.m., George Weigel, noted author on Catholicism and politics and a biographer of Pope John Paul II, will lecture on the role of the church and John Paul in overturning communism in the Eastern Bloc. The program will take place in Cortelyou Commons, 2324 N. Fremont St., Chicago.  For additional information, contact Patrick Callahan at pcallahan@depaul.edu or at (773) 325-7338.

On Nov. 3 at 9:40 a.m., the consuls-general of Germany and the Czech Republic will participate in a discussion on the events of 1989 and how politics and economics in the region have evolved since then.  J.D. Bindenagel, DePaul’s vice president for Community, Government and International Affairs, will moderate.  The program will be held in Room 325 of the DePaul Student Center, 2250 N. Sheffield Ave., Chicago.  For additional information, contact Patrick Callahan at pcallahan@depaul.edu or at (773) 325-7338.