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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 GermanyMemododis.ch/52950

    Memo for the State Secretary of the Foreign Ministry of the FRG, Jürgen Sudhoff

    Bericht über die kühle Reaktion der italienischen Regierung auf die Ereignisse in Deutschland. Italien messe der Stabilität in Europa sowie dem Fortschritt der europäischen Integration und dem KSZE-Prozess grosse Bedeutung bei.

    Beate Grzeski, Karl Heinz Kuhna, Germany · FRG Federal Republic of Germany · Federal Foreign OfficeJürgen Sudhoff, Germany · FRG Federal Republic of Germany · Federal Foreign Office

    Bonn, 18 December 1989

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  8. The Brandenburg Gate reopens

  9. January 1990

  10. AustriaMemododis.ch/52931

    Memorandum of conversation by the Austrian Foreign Ministry

    Im Zuge des Gegenbesuchs des ostdeutschen Ministerpräsidenten H. Modrow in Österreich traf sich der ostdeutsche Außenminister O. Fischer mit seinem österreichischen Amtskollegen A. Mock und sagte ihm, "dass es zur Vereinigung kommen werde".

    Hans Peter Manz, Austria · Ministry of Foreign AffairsAustria · Embassy in Berlin, Austria · Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Österreich · Botschaft in Bonn, Österreich · Delegation in West Berlin

    Vienna, 30 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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  15. March 1990

  16. Soviet UnionDeclarationdodis.ch/53316

    Statement of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union, Eduard Shevardnadze

    Unequivocally accepting the right of the German people to proceed with the unification of their country, the main conditions to be observed in this process by the USSR and its Western partners are summarized and then discussed in detail.

    Eduard Shevardnadze, USSR Union of Soviet Socialist Republics · Ministry of Foreign Affairs–

    Prague, 17 March 1990

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

  18. April 1990

  19. Soviet UnionInterviewdodis.ch/53318

    Interview by the Irish Times with the Foreign Minister of the Soviet Union, Eduard Shevardnaze

    The USSR ’s approach towards the unification of Germany, considering it as a historic event meeting the aspiration of all German people, is laid out. However, it is underscored that the membership of the united Germany in NATO is unacceptable for the Soviet Union.

    Eduard Shevardnadze, USSR Union of Soviet Socialist Republics · Ministry of Foreign AffairsThe Irish Times

    [Moscow,] 26 April 1990

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  20. May 1990

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

  23. Monetary, economic and social union enters into force

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

  25. August 1990

  27. Unification Treaty signed

  28. September 1990

  29. Two-plus-Four Treaty signed in Moscow

  31. German reunification

  32. German–Polish Border Treaty signed