Diplomatic documents · 1989–1990
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.
Brandenburger Tor, 30 Jahre Mauerfall (2019): New York-air, CC BY-SA 4.0
Hungary opens its border to Austria for GDR citizens
Monday demonstration in Leipzig
Honecker is replaced by Egon Krenz as SED General Secretary
The Berlin Wall opens
Kohl presents his Ten-Point Plan
East German overtures towards Israel, including public statements in press interviews. Govrin believes that the GDR sees Israel and world Jewry as potential allies against plans for German reunification.
Yosef Govrin, Israel · Foreign MinistryReuven Merhav, Israel · Foreign Ministry
Jerusalem, 17 December 1989
Read documentThe Brandenburg Gate reopens
President Bush wrote to express support for Chancellor Kohl’s efforts to reunify Germany while remaining in NATO amidst rapidly changing events in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. Also: Memorandum for Brent Scowcroft, 8.2.1990. Also: Memorandum for the President.
Robert D. Blackwill, USA United States of America · White HouseHelmut Kohl, Germany · FRG Federal Republic of Germany · Government
[Washington,] 9 February 1990
Read documentOttawa: agreement on the Two-plus-Four talks
First free elections to the GDR People’s Chamber
First Two-plus-Four ministerial meeting in Bonn
Monetary, economic and social union enters into force
Arkhyz, Caucasus: Kohl and Gorbachev agree on a united Germany in NATO
Unification Treaty signed
Two-plus-Four Treaty signed in Moscow
Impressions of the last 48 hours before the signature of the Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany.
John Weston, GB · Foreign OfficeChristopher Mallaby, Great Britain · Embassy in Bonn
London, 17 September 1990
Read documentGerman reunification
German–Polish Border Treaty signed