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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. PolandTelegramdodis.ch/53171

    Telegram from the Polish Ambassador in Cologne, Ryszard Karski, to the Polish Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bolesław Kulski

    The ten-point plan for German reunification is assessed and the lack of any information about the inviolability of the Polish-German border is criticised.

    Ryszard Karski, Poland · Embassy in CologneBolesław Kulski, Poland · Ministry of Foreign Affairs

    Immediately CologneThe Polish Embassy in the FRG Federal Republic of Germany was situated in Cologne., 29 November 1989, 6.20 p.m.

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  11. The Brandenburg Gate reopens

  12. January 1990

  13. 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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  14. 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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  18. 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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  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. April 1990

  24. SwitzerlandMemododis.ch/49550

    Interne Notiz des Eidgenösssichen Departements für auswärtige Angelegenheiten

    Der Botschafter der DDR in der Schweiz, E. Bikow, sucht das eidgenössische Departement für auswärtige Angelegenheiten auf, um eine Erklärung der Volkskammer zu übergeben und über die bilateralen Beziehungen, insbesondere über Visafragen, zu sprechen. Darin: Gemeinsame Erklärung aller Fraktionen der Volkskammer vom 12.4.1990

    Daniel Woker, EDA · Politische Direktion · Politische Abteilung I–

    Bern, 18. April 1990

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  25. 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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  26. First Two-plus-Four ministerial meeting in Bonn

  27. Monetary, economic and social union enters into force

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

  29. Unification Treaty signed

  30. Two-plus-Four Treaty signed in Moscow

  31. German reunification

  32. November 1990

  33. PolandMemododis.ch/53174

    Memorandum by the Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Krzysztof Skubiszewski

    Summary of the talks between Prime Minister Mazowiecki and Chancellor Kohl. The current developments and arrangements for immediate measures, plans to sign a border treaty and a good neighbourly relations treaty, and the decision to abolish the visa requirement are discussed.

    Jerzy Sułek, Poland · Ministry of Foreign AffairsPoland · Government

    Warsaw, 11 November 1990

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  34. German–Polish Border Treaty signed