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Diplomatic documents · 1989–1990

Chronicle

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.

Documents per weekEvent
Sep 1989OctNovDecJan 1990FebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovHungary opens its border to Austria for GDR citizensMonday demonstration in LeipzigHonecker is replaced by Egon Krenz as SED General SecretaryThe Berlin Wall opensKohl presents his Ten-Point PlanThe Brandenburg Gate reopensOttawa: agreement on the Two-plus-Four talksFirst free elections to the GDR People’s ChamberFirst Two-plus-Four ministerial meeting in BonnMonetary, economic and social union enters into forceArkhyz, Caucasus: Kohl and Gorbachev agree on a united Germany in NATOUnification Treaty signedTwo-plus-Four Treaty signed in MoscowGerman reunificationGerman–Polish Border Treaty signed

Brandenburger Tor, 30 Jahre Mauerfall (2019): New York-air, CC BY-SA 4.0

  1. Hungary opens its border to Austria for GDR citizens

  2. Monday demonstration in Leipzig

  3. Honecker is replaced by Egon Krenz as SED General Secretary

  4. November 1989

  5. The Berlin Wall opens

  8. Federal Republic of GermanyMemoExtractdodis.ch/52949

    Memo for the Foreign Minister of the FRG, Hans-Dietrich Genscher

    Die Reaktionen der US -Regierung, der Medien und der Öffentlichkeit auf die jüngsten Ereignisse in Berlin und der DDR werden dargestellt. Die eher verhaltene Erklärung von Präsident Bush, wird auf den Fokus der US -Regierung auf die Wahrung von Stabilität in der NATO zurückführt.

    Eberhard Kölsch, Gebhardt von Moltke, Germany · FRG Federal Republic of Germany · Federal Foreign OfficeHans-Dietrich Genscher, Germany · FRG Federal Republic of Germany · Federal Foreign Office

    Bonn, 16 November 1989

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  9. Kohl presents his Ten-Point Plan

  10. United StatesMemoSecretdodis.ch/52912

    Memorandum for the President of the United States, George H. W. Bush

    In response to the President’s request, an analysis of how recent events in Eastern Europe would impact Soviet policy in Germany. Included: Memorandum for Brent Scowcroft/Robert Gates, 29.11.1989.

    Brent Scowcroft, USA United States of America · White HouseGeorge Herbert Walker Bush, USA United States of America · White House

    Washington, D.C., 29 November 1989

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  11. The Brandenburg Gate reopens

  12. January 1990

  13. United StatesMinutesSensitivedodis.ch/52913

    Memorandum by the United States National Security Council

    President Bush and Chancellor Kohl discussed proposals for the conventional force reduction talks in Vienna, particularly in light of recent developments in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union.

    Philip D. Zelikow, USA United States of America · National Security Council–

    Washington, D.C., 26 January 1990

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  14. February 1990

  16. United StatesLetterSecretdodis.ch/52914

    Draft letter from the President of the United States, George H. W. Bush, to the Chancellor of the FRG, Helmut Kohl

    President Bush wrote to express support for Chancellor Kohl’s efforts to reunify Germany while remaining in NATO amidst rapidly changing events in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. Also: Memorandum for Brent Scowcroft, 8.2.1990. Also: Memorandum for the President.

    Robert D. Blackwill, USA United States of America · White HouseHelmut Kohl, Germany · FRG Federal Republic of Germany · Government

    [Washington,] 9 February 1990

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  17. Ottawa: agreement on the Two-plus-Four talks

  18. SwitzerlandTelegramVertraulichdodis.ch/52281

    Politscher Bericht des schweizerischen Botschafters in Bonn, Alfred Hohl

    Analyse der drei grundlegenden Prozesse von historischer Bedeutung, die sich gegenwärtig in Europa abspielen: die europäische Integration, die Auflösung des Ostblocks und die damit verbundene Eliminierung der sicherheitspolitischen Bipolarität in Europa und die deutsche Wiedervereinigung.

    Jürg Leutert, Swiss Embassy in BonnEDA · Politische Direktion · Zentrale Dienste · Politisches Sekretariat, EDA · Politische Direktion · Politische Abteilung I, Swiss Embassy in East Berlin, Swiss Embassy in London, Swiss Embassy in Moscow, Swiss Embassy in Paris, Swiss Embassy in Rome, Swiss Embassy in Washington

    Bonn,  13. Februar 1990

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  19. United StatesMemoSensitivedodis.ch/52917

    Memorandum for the President of the United States, George H. W. Bush

    Discussion of the U.S. position in the upcoming Two-Plus-Four Talks on German reunification, particularly in light of Soviet concerns

    Brent Scowcroft, USA United States of America · White HouseGeorge Herbert Walker Bush, USA United States of America · White House

    Washington, D. C., 19 February 1990

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  20. Federal Republic of GermanyTelegramUrgentdodis.ch/52952

    Telegram from the Ambassador of the FRG in Tel Aviv, Wilhelm Haas, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the FRG

    Haas reports critical reactions on behalf of the Israeli press and some cabinet members to remarks by Israel’s Foreign Minister Moshe Arens on the possibility of German unification.

    Wilhelm Haas, Heimo Richter, Germany · FRG Federal Republic of Germany · Embassy in Tel AvivGermany · FRG Federal Republic of Germany · Federal Foreign Office

    Tel Aviv, 20 February 1990, 1.55 p.m.

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  22. First free elections to the GDR People’s Chamber

  23. May 1990

  24. First Two-plus-Four ministerial meeting in Bonn

  26. Monetary, economic and social union enters into force

  27. Arkhyz, Caucasus: Kohl and Gorbachev agree on a united Germany in NATO

  28. August 1990

  30. Unification Treaty signed

  31. Two-plus-Four Treaty signed in Moscow

  32. German reunification

  33. German–Polish Border Treaty signed