Diplomatic documents · 1989–1990
A selection of telegrams, memos, minutes and letters from embassies and foreign ministries in eleven countries, set against the events from autumn 1989 to German unity.
Brandenburger Tor, 30 Jahre Mauerfall (2019): New York-air, CC BY-SA 4.0
Hungary opens its border to Austria for GDR citizens
Monday demonstration in Leipzig
Honecker is replaced by Egon Krenz as SED General Secretary
The Berlin Wall opens
Report on the fall of the Berlin Wall and mass crossings by East German citizens into West Berlin.
Janusz Obodowski, Poland · Embassy in BerlinKrysztof Skubiszweski, Poland · Ministry of Foreign Affairs
East Berlin, 10 November 1989, 1.00 a.m.
Read documentDuring the conversation between Foreign Minister Skubiszewski and Chancellor Kohl the latter’s decision to interrupt his visit to Poland and the impact of the fall of the Berlin Wall on Polish-West German relations were discussed.
Poland · Ministry of Foreign Affairs–
Read documentKohl presents his Ten-Point Plan
The Brandenburg Gate reopens
The heads of Polish diplomatic missions abroad are given the following instruction: Polish support for German reunification is made contingent upon Germany recognizing Poland’s western border along the Oder and Lusatian Neisse Rivers.
Krysztof Skubiszweski, Poland · Ministry of Foreign Affairs–
Warsaw, 1 February 1990
Read documentOttawa: agreement on the Two-plus-Four talks
First free elections to the GDR People’s Chamber
First Two-plus-Four ministerial meeting in Bonn
Observations on the impact of German reunification on Polish-German relations. The need to develop pan-European cooperation based on the CSCE process with the participation of Canada and the United States.
Poland · Military mission in West Berlin–
West Berlin, 28 May 1990
Read documentMonetary, economic and social union enters into force
Arkhyz, Caucasus: Kohl and Gorbachev agree on a united Germany in NATO
Unification Treaty signed
Two-plus-Four Treaty signed in Moscow
German reunification
German–Polish Border Treaty signed