You're listening to an AirWave Media Podcast.

August 22, 1991, St. Petersburg.

For the first time since 1917, the red hammer and sickle flag does not fly over the city hall.

There was a decree from Russian President Boris Yeltsin saying that the tri-color

was now the official flag of the nation, the red flag no longer valid.

St. Petersburg waits no time, removing the old flag from the palace, and raising the tri-color

that was last on this building, when Tsar Nicholas was alive.

The question remained. What do we do with the old flag?

Stop on it. Burn it. Wait. Let's give it back to the communists.

The crowd goes to the Communist Party of the Soviet Union headquarters in St. Petersburg,

and a man knocks on the door. It opens. Take this.

A hand is all they see coming out of the door. It takes the hammer and sickle flag, and then shuts the door.

Good evening.

Morning is wiser than the evening as an old saying goes, and this is as true on August 21, 1991 as any last night.

They knew very little.

Good evening. There is one thing that leads to the Soviet Union tonight.

Chaos and confusion. It is close to daylight now, and Moscow.

Shots have been fired at least three people have died outside the Russian Parliament building,

where Boris Yeltsin is struggling to lead his reformers against the coup.

Three were dead, more wounded, threats to the White House, that was definitely to be stormed.

There seems to be a great deal of fear, certainly among the reformers, Gerard,

that when daylight hits, perhaps that's when the Kremlin will strike in full force.

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