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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.

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

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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

  8. 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

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  9. Kohl presents his Ten-Point Plan

  10. United StatesMemoSecretdodis.ch/52912

    Memorandum for the President of the United States, George H. W. Bush

    In response to the President’s request, an analysis of how recent events in Eastern Europe would impact Soviet policy in Germany. Included: Memorandum for Brent Scowcroft/Robert Gates, 29.11.1989.

    Brent Scowcroft, USA United States of America · White HouseGeorge Herbert Walker Bush, USA United States of America · White House

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  11. December 1989

  12. 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

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  13. The Brandenburg Gate reopens

  14. January 1990

  15. Federal Republic of GermanyMemododis.ch/52951

    Memo for the Foreign Minister of the FRG, Hans-Dietrich Genscher

    M. Gorbatschow und E. Schewardnadse halten die deutsche Einigung für unvermeidlich. Deshalb konzentrieren sie sich darauf, die Entwicklung durch den KSZE-Prozess zu steuern und die deutsche Einigung als Katalysator zu nutzen, um die Entwicklung in Europa in ihrem Interesse zu beeinflussen.

    Helmut-Wolfgang Brett, Klaus Neubert, Dietmar Stüdemann, Germany · FRG Federal Republic of Germany · Federal Foreign OfficeHans-Dietrich Genscher, Germany · FRG Federal Republic of Germany · Federal Foreign Office

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  16. February 1990

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

  18. 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

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  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

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  20. March 1990

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

  22. May 1990

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

  24. PolandMemododis.ch/53173

    Memo by the Polish Military Mission in West Berlin

    Observations on the impact of German reunification on Polish-German relations. The need to develop pan-European cooperation based on the CSCE process with the participation of Canada and the United States.

    Poland · Military mission in West Berlin–

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  25. June 1990

  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

  29. AustriaMemododis.ch/52930

    Memo by the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

    Die Information fasst die Fortschritte auf dem Weg zur deutschen Einheit nach den Durchbrüchen von Mitte Juli 1990 zusammen und beleuchtet die Auswirkungen auf die Integrationspolitik Österreichs.

    Marius Calligaris, Austria · Ministry of Foreign AffairsThomas Klestil, Alois Mock, Austria · Ministry of Foreign Affairs

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  30. August 1990

  31. Unification Treaty signed

  32. September 1990

  33. Two-plus-Four Treaty signed in Moscow

  34. German reunification

  35. German–Polish Border Treaty signed