German reunification
German reunification indicate the events which from October 1989 at October 1990 led to the integration of The German Democratic Republic with The Federal Republic of Germany. In German, these events are indicated by the words Wiedervereinigung (reunification) or Wende (turning).
Synopsis |
Division of Germany
The territory of what will become the five new ones , forming Soviet zone of occupation in , was separate since of the remainder of Germany, then occupied by the forces American, and . From the government of builds with intended to prevent the escape of the inhabitants of East Germany towards FRG. This wall, symbol of the division of Germany, will remain a border narrowly supervised until November .
Chronology of the reunification
In 1989, in spite of the economic and social difficulties to which the mode of GDR must face, the prospect for a reunification of both Allemagnes appears still remote. In June 1989, the future chancellor declares that the chances of a reunification are non-existent1 whereas the secretary-general of the central committee of the SED, Erich Honecker, promises that the Berlin Wall will last 100 more years2. However, since May 2, the border enters and it is open and of many German of the East use this possibility to join the federal Republic.
In this context, the popular discontent grows and on September 4 approximately 1200 people ravel with to claim reforms and in particular the freedom of circulation towards the West. It is the beginning of the "manifestations of Monday" (Montagsdemonstrationen) which will take place in several cities until March 1990. had already indicated on July 6 that itSoviet Union would not intervene to repress the movements which agitate GDR. A turning is reached on October 9, 1989 with the first true mass demonstration which brings together approximately 70 000 people always in Leipzig. Perhaps not to take the responsability for a blood bath, the local persons in charge order with the various forces of safety (Stasi, Volkspolizei and NVA) not to stop the procession. Egon Krenz will state later to have personally given this order.
From there the number of the demonstrators does not cease increasing to reach 120 000 on October 16 and the 320 000 23. October 18, 1989, little after the celebrations of forty years GDR, Honecker is constrained to resign by Politbüro which names Egon Krenz to succeed to him. The resignation of Honecker is not enough however to calm the demonstrators whose claims of reform of the political system took an increasingly nationalist turn meanwhile and include inter alia the reunification with the federal Republic. Finally on November 8, 1989 the Council of the minister and on November 9 Politbüro of GDR resigns.
In the evening of November 9, at the end of a press conference followed on line by television, Günter Schabowski, member of the central committee of the SED, announces with the general surprise the lifting of all the restrictions of voyage and the opening of the borders. At the time when the decision is diffused with television, the decision in fact would not have been definitively taken and the troops in charge of controls was not in all the not prevented cases of the opening of the borders. Thousands of people mass at the stations of passage along the Berlin Wall. Worms 23 H the first border post to open its barriers is that of Bonholmer Strasse. The others follow quickly.
November 13 Parliament of GDR (Volkskammer) Hans Modrow at the post of president elects. Gorbatchev declares that the reunification is a question which German must settle between them. The mention of the particular role of the SED is withdrawn from the constitution, which potentially opens the way with free elections and true a capacity of the other political parties. As from December 7 the new government directed by Modrow agrees to discuss with the new groups oppositions and the Churches in a "central round table". Other "round tables" are formed at the communal level. The principal claims of the opponents relate to the democratization of the mode, the behaviour of free elections and the dissolution of Ministerium für Staatssicherheit (Stasi). The German reunification is however not on the agenda.
As of March 18 1990 are held of new elections for Volkskammer GDR. As much in the East that to the West of many discussions relate to the calendar and the methods of a reunification. Victory of the conservatives of Allianz für Deutschland (Alliance for Germany - coalition of three preserving parties of which the CDU of the East) decides in favour of a fast reunification by using article 23 of of the German federal Republic. This article allowed a unilateral declaration of adhesion the applicability of the fundamental law by a German Land or this one was not put into force in 1949.
In the night from the 22 to August 23, 1990 Volkskammer the declaration of adhesion with effect decided on October 3, 1990. It is to be noticed that this date is unilaterally decided by the Parliament of GDR without consultation with the government or the Parliament of FRG.
The methods of the reunification were laid down by the treaty of unification (Einigungsvertrag) signed in Berlin on 31 August 1990 and ratified on September 20 by Volkskammer with 299 against 80 votes and by The Bundestag West with 442 against 47 votes.
With the treaty 2+4, a peace treaty enters the two German States and the four victorious powers of (the United States, France, United Kingdom, Soviet Union) signed in Moscow on September 12, 1990, reunified Germany accepted its full sovereignty at the time of the reunification.
Lastly, a treaty signed on November 14, 1990 in Warsaw fixed the limits of Germany reunified at the line Oder-Neisse, border effective since 1945. Germany renonça thus definitively with the old provinces of Eastern Prussia, Silesia, Poméranie Eastern and the part of Brandebourg located at the East of these two rivers.
