Generating file ...

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. Kohl presents his Ten-Point Plan

  7. 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.

    Read document

  8. December 1989

  9. 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.

    Read document

  10. The Brandenburg Gate reopens

  11. February 1990

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

  13. SwitzerlandTelegramVertraulichdodis.ch/52281

    Politscher Bericht des schweizerischen Botschafters in Bonn, Alfred Hohl

    Analyse der drei grundlegenden Prozesse von historischer Bedeutung, die sich gegenwärtig in Europa abspielen: die europäische Integration, die Auflösung des Ostblocks und die damit verbundene Eliminierung der sicherheitspolitischen Bipolarität in Europa und die deutsche Wiedervereinigung.

    Jürg Leutert, Swiss Embassy in BonnEDA · Politische Direktion · Zentrale Dienste · Politisches Sekretariat, EDA · Politische Direktion · Politische Abteilung I, Swiss Embassy in East Berlin, Swiss Embassy in London, Swiss Embassy in Moscow, Swiss Embassy in Paris, Swiss Embassy in Rome, Swiss Embassy in Washington

    Bonn,  13. Februar 1990

    Read document

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

  17. May 1990

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

  20. July 1990

  21. Monetary, economic and social union enters into force

  22. NetherlandsTelegramConfidentialdodis.ch/52961

    Telegram from the Dutch Ambassador in East Berlin, Egbert Jacobs, to the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hans van den Broek

    Report on the state of affairs in the GDR, where people appear pleased with the prospect of reunification and see no reason to stretch out the country’s existence. These mental changes have had a profound impact on the internal political situation in the GDR.

    Egbert Jacobs, Netherlands · Embassy in BerlinHans van den Broek, Netherlands · Ministry of Foreign Affairs

    East Berlin, 4 July 1990

    Read document

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

  25. Unification Treaty signed

  26. Two-plus-Four Treaty signed in Moscow

  27. German reunification

  28. German–Polish Border Treaty signed