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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

  7. Kohl presents his Ten-Point Plan

  8. December 1989

  10. The Brandenburg Gate reopens

  11. January 1990

  12. Federal Republic of GermanyMemododis.ch/52951

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

    M. Gorbatschow und E. Schewardnadse halten die deutsche Einigung für unvermeidlich. Deshalb konzentrieren sie sich darauf, die Entwicklung durch den KSZE-Prozess zu steuern und die deutsche Einigung als Katalysator zu nutzen, um die Entwicklung in Europa in ihrem Interesse zu beeinflussen.

    Helmut-Wolfgang Brett, Klaus Neubert, Dietmar Stüdemann, Germany · FRG Federal Republic of Germany · Federal Foreign OfficeHans-Dietrich Genscher, Germany · FRG Federal Republic of Germany · Federal Foreign Office

    Bonn, 31 January 1990

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  13. February 1990

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

  17. 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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  19. March 1990

  20. 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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  21. First free elections to the GDR People’s Chamber

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

  24. July 1990

  25. Monetary, economic and social union enters into force

  26. 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