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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. The Berlin Wall opens

  7. Kohl presents his Ten-Point Plan

  8. The Brandenburg Gate reopens

  9. February 1990

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

  11. 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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  12. March 1990

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

  15. April 1990

  16. 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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  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. November 1990

  24. 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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  25. German–Polish Border Treaty signed