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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. February 1990

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

  11. IsraelTelegramSecret/Immediatedodis.ch/52945

    Telegram from the Israeli Ambassador in Bonn, Benjamin Navon, to the Israeli Foreign Ministry

    A report on Foreign Minister Arens' talks in Bonn with Chancellor Kohl and President von Weizsäcker. Arens told the latter that he sees the reunification of Germany as "a foregone conclusion". Kohl said that East Germany was rapidly collapsing, and assured Arens that "there is no Fourth Reich, and never will be."

    Benjamin Navon, Israel · Embassy in BonnIsrael · Foreign Ministry

    Bonn, 20 February 1990

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

  14. May 1990

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

  17. Monetary, economic and social union enters into force

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

  19. Unification Treaty signed

  20. Two-plus-Four Treaty signed in Moscow

  21. German reunification

  22. German–Polish Border Treaty signed