Why did the 1991 Soviet coup attempt fail?

by everyoneoutofthepool

I don't think I saw this in the FAQ. Why did the coup collapse? Why did Red Army tanks disobey orders to storm Yeltsin's headquarters?

  • Was there not enough public support for the coup leaders and their goals?

  • Was the coup poorly organized?

  • What role did glasnost and perestroika play? How about economic prosperity?

  • Was it because the Russian Federation now had enough power to rival the Soviet Union? How could Gorbachev tolerate such a decentralization of power?

  • Were allegiances split between Yanayev and Gorbachev among the CPSU and Red Army?

everyoneoutofthepool

Speaking of bloodless ends to communism, I have a question about the Monday Demonstrations in East Germany. Honecker sent NVA and Stasi troops to massacre protesters in Leipzig, but they refused to follow orders. Why?