5: The Reuniting of Germany 1989-1991
- Created by: BeccaEK
- Created on: 10-05-15 14:11
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- The Reuniting of Germany 1989-1991
- External factors 1989
- Late 1980s Hungary made significant changes to its government
- It was a popular tourist destination for those in East
- GDR citizens could claim West German passport on entering Austria (bordered Hungary)
- This was under FRG law after Hungary-Austria border was opened
- From Sept 1989 Hungary announced any East Germans could legally cross into Austria
- GDR citizens could claim West German passport on entering Austria (bordered Hungary)
- It was a popular tourist destination for those in East
- FRG encouraged people to leave GDR
- 1989 Gorbachev visited FRG + spoke to Kohl about reunifiction
- SED tried to close its personal borders
- Looked like it was imprisoning its own people
- Late 1980s Hungary made significant changes to its government
- Internal factors
- Honecker unwilling to allow changes to system in GDR
- May 1989 protests broke out when proven elections were rigged
- Spring 1989 on - protest groups started holding meetings + peace prayers outside church in Leipzig
- Sept-Oct 1989 'Monday demonstrations' attracted thousands
- Gorbachev visited East Berlin in Oct 1989 for GDR's 40th birthday
- Urged Honecker to make changes to GDR or all its citizens would leave
- 9th Oct 1989 70,000 turned out for demonstrations in Leipzig
- Honecker planned to crush them with violence but Soviet soldiers did not support this
- 17th Oct 1989 Politburo asked Honecker to stand down
- He agreed on 'health terms' (had gallbladder surgery)
- Krenz appointed after Honecker
- Tried to make GDR more modern + offered free travel
- Nov 1989 over 1 million demonstrated + 2 days later 500,000 marched on Leipzig
- Free travel + free elections demanded
- 9th Nov 1989 GDR accepted anyone with passport could go to West
- Supposed to be announced on 10th Nov
- Honecker unwilling to allow changes to system in GDR
- Immediate impact of fall of wall
- 9th Nov 1989
- Travel restrictions lifted a day early
- GDR's government hoped people would visit but return home
- Announced worldwide
- Travel restrictions lifted a day early
- East German border guards overwhelmed by 1000s of people waiting to cross at checkpoints
- Didn't try to force crowds back
- By midnight GDR police announced all border checkpoints had been opened
- Germans from both sides danced on the wall, hugged, kissed + sang together
- GDR citizens greeted with free gifts by FRG
- Most GDR citizens returned home after
- Increasing calls for reunification - lure of the West was too great
- Krenz lasted 44 days - Modrow replaced him
- Announced free+ fair elections would take place
- East Germans packing up + leaving
- 75,000 in Jan 1990 alone
- Nov 1990 Kohl stated it was best for East Germans to stay in GDR
- Demanded SED give up control of GDR
- Nov 1989 Kohl's 'Ten Point Plan' called for federation of GDR+FRG (reunification)
- He expected it to take 4-5 years to implement
- Foreign interests were not keen on the plan
- 9th Nov 1989
- Why GDR disintergrated
- Attraction of Western consumer society too much to resist
- From Dec 1989 growing numbers of Germans called for reunification
- 22nd Dec Brandenburg gate opened
- Control of info in GDR weakened
- 15th Jan 1990 Stasi headquarters stormed by protestoers
- Stasi only managed to destroy 5% of their files
- Rest now available for East Germans to read
- Stasi only managed to destroy 5% of their files
- 15th Jan 1990 Stasi headquarters stormed by protestoers
- March 1990 = 1st free elections in GDR
- 'Alliance for Germany' coalition won + they wanted reunification
- Western politicians helped Eastern counterparts
- Reuniting Germany 1990-1991
- 1st stage = economic union
- July 1990 deutschmark became currency for both
- Currency reform destroyed GDRs economy
- People now bought Western products
- Summer 1990 nearly 20% GDR's workforce unemployed
- Industry + agriculture hard hit
- Farmers suffered
- Industry + agriculture hard hit
- July 1990 deutschmark became currency for both
- 1st stage = economic union
- Discussions with allied powers
- GDR+FRG did not have the power to reunite without external help
- The 4 allies had to give their agreement
- 1990 'Two plus Four' negotiations
- Kohl played important role in creating stronger relations with USA
- Agreement on unification with USSR = difficult
- USSR had used Germany as a 'buffer zone' and protection from the West
- Prospect of NATO troops in East Germany scared USSR
- Part of Gorbachev's policy of change involved better relations with the West
- 16th May 1990 - Kohl + Gorbachev agreed to reunification
- Germany would join NATO and Soviet troops to withdraw from East Germany
- 16th May 1990 - Kohl + Gorbachev agreed to reunification
- GDR+FRG did not have the power to reunite without external help
- Unification treaty
- Signed by GDR+FRG on 31st August 1990
- 4 allied powers agreed they would remove troops from Berlin
- Returning the country to German control
- 4 allied powers agreed they would remove troops from Berlin
- FRG agreeeed to limit armed forces
- Now 370,000 in size
- GDR abolished 3rd Oct 1990
- Berlin wall largely dismantled 1990-1991
- 3rd Oct now celebrated as German Unity Day
- Dec 1990 1st all German elections since 1932
- Kohl kept his job as chancellor
- Signed by GDR+FRG on 31st August 1990
- Kohl + reunifiction
- He claimed credit as 'reunification chancellor'
- Stressed importance of his 10 point plan
- Others claim he was an opportunist
- Critics believe his didn't think about long term
- He claimed credit as 'reunification chancellor'
- External factors 1989
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