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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. September 1989

  2. Hungary opens its border to Austria for GDR citizens

  3. AustriaMemododis.ch/52927

    Memo by the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

    Bereits im September 1989 schrieb ein weitsichtiger Diplomat des österreichischen Aussenministeriums eine ausführliche Analyse, in der er zu dem Schluss kam, dass die Frage der deutschen Wiedervereinigung in den kommenden Jahren ein bestimmendes Thema in der internationalen Politik sein wird.

    Thomas Nowotny, Austria · Ministry of Foreign AffairsAustria · Ministry of Foreign Affairs

    Vienna, 19 September 1989

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  4. Monday demonstration in Leipzig

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

  6. November 1989

  7. The Berlin Wall opens

  9. Kohl presents his Ten-Point Plan

  10. The Brandenburg Gate reopens

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

  12. March 1990

  13. 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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  14. First free elections to the GDR People’s Chamber

  15. April 1990

  16. 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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  17. First Two-plus-Four ministerial meeting in Bonn

  18. Monetary, economic and social union enters into force

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

  20. Unification Treaty signed

  21. Two-plus-Four Treaty signed in Moscow

  22. German reunification

  23. German–Polish Border Treaty signed