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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. The Berlin Wall opens

  5. Kohl presents his Ten-Point Plan

  6. December 1989

  7. Federal Republic of GermanyTelegramExtract Confidential and very urgentdodis.ch/52953

    Telegram from the Ambassador of the FRG in Paris, Franz Pfeffer, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the FRG

    Information über die verschiedenen Reaktionen in Frankreich auf den Fall der Berliner Mauer und die jüngsten Entwicklungen in der DDR. Dabei wird die Notwendigkeit einer guten Öffentlichkeitsarbeit der deutschen Botschaft betont.

    Helmut Elfenkämper, Franz Pfeffer, Germany · FRG Federal Republic of Germany · Embassy in ParisGermany · FRG Federal Republic of Germany · Federal Foreign Office

    Paris, 18 Dezember 1989, 3.54 p.m.

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  8. The Brandenburg Gate reopens

  9. January 1990

  10. 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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  11. February 1990

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

  14. 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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  16. 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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  17. March 1990

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

  20. April 1990

  21. SwitzerlandTelegramVetraulichdodis.ch/52282

    Politischer Bericht des schweizerischen Botschaft in Bonn, Alfred Hohl

    Analyse der Aussage eines Staatssekretärs des Auswärtigen Amts, dass die Wiedervereinigung als Aufgabe schlicht und einfach zu früh an Bonn herangetragen worden sei. Er befürchtet, dass die BRD noch nicht voll genug in Europa integriert sei und die Chancen deutsch-nationale Aufwallungen noch viel zu reell sind.

    Alfred Hohl, Swiss Embassy in BonnFederal Department for Foreign Affairs

    Bonn, 10. April 1990

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  22. May 1990

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

  25. June 1990

  27. July 1990

  28. Monetary, economic and social union enters into force

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

  30. AustriaMemododis.ch/52930

    Memo by the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

    Die Information fasst die Fortschritte auf dem Weg zur deutschen Einheit nach den Durchbrüchen von Mitte Juli 1990 zusammen und beleuchtet die Auswirkungen auf die Integrationspolitik Österreichs.

    Marius Calligaris, Austria · Ministry of Foreign AffairsThomas Klestil, Alois Mock, Austria · Ministry of Foreign Affairs

    Vienna, 18 July 1990

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  32. August 1990

  34. Unification Treaty signed

  35. Two-plus-Four Treaty signed in Moscow

  36. German reunification

  37. German–Polish Border Treaty signed