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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. November 1989

  5. The Berlin Wall opens

  6. NetherlandsTelegramExtract Confidentialdodis.ch/52958

    Telegram from the Dutch Ambassador in Bonn, Jan van der Tas, to the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hans van den Broek

    Report on the events that unfolded on and after 9.11.1989. Van der Tas is critical of the "false note", the claim for reunification, brought into the festivities by FRG Chancellor Kohl.

    Jan van der Tas, Netherlands · Embassy in BonnHans van den Broek, Netherlands · Ministry of Foreign Affairs

    Bonn, 14 November 1989

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  8. Kohl presents his Ten-Point Plan

  9. 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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  10. December 1989

  11. 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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  12. The Brandenburg Gate reopens

  13. January 1990

  15. February 1990

  16. NetherlandsTelegramConfidentialdodis.ch/52960

    Telegram from the Dutch Ambassador in Bonn, Jan van der Tas, to the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hans van den Broek

    Report on the visit of Defence Minister Relus ter Beek to the Defence Minister of the FRG Gerhard Stoltenberg, and the possible implications of German reunification for the banking situation in Germany, NATO cooperation, and the CSCE discussions with the Soviets.

    Jan van der Tas, Netherlands · Embassy in BonnHans van den Broek, Netherlands · Ministry of Defence

    Bonn, 8 February 1990

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

  19. 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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  20. First free elections to the GDR People’s Chamber

  21. April 1990

  22. SwitzerlandTelegramVetraulichdodis.ch/52282

    Politischer Bericht des schweizerischen Botschaft in Bonn, Alfred Hohl

    Analyse der Aussage eines Staatssekretärs des Auswärtigen Amts, dass die Wiedervereinigung als Aufgabe schlicht und einfach zu früh an Bonn herangetragen worden sei. Er befürchtet, dass die BRD noch nicht voll genug in Europa integriert sei und die Chancen deutsch-nationale Aufwallungen noch viel zu reell sind.

    Alfred Hohl, Swiss Embassy in BonnFederal Department for Foreign Affairs

    Bonn, 10. April 1990

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  23. May 1990

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

  26. July 1990

  27. Monetary, economic and social union enters into force

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

  30. Unification Treaty signed

  31. Two-plus-Four Treaty signed in Moscow

  32. German reunification

  33. German–Polish Border Treaty signed