RIYADH, 3 October 2006 — Germany celebrates the 16th anniversary of reunification on Oct. 3 this year. Rigged elections, an unprecedented wave of emigration and mass demonstrations led within a few months to the collapse of the power structures of the German Democratic Republic in 1989.
After the resignation of the head of state and of the communist party, Erich Honecker, on Oct. 18 and the fall of the Berlin Wall at the beginning of November, a rapid unification process was set in train. Below are the most important stages:
Nov. 9, 1989 — Politburo member Guenter Schabowski mentions, apparently in passing, that the borders have been opened with immediate effect. Not long afterward thousands of East Germans flood across the borders. After 28 years, the Berlin Wall comes down.
Nov. 13, 1989 — Dresden party head Hans Modrow is tasked by the East German Parliament with forming a new government. At the mass demonstrations that have been running for months there are banners reading “Germany united fatherland”.
Dec. 3, 1989 — Under pressure from the party rank and file, the politburo and the central committee resign.
Dec. 7, 1989 — A round table — a forum of representatives from old and new parties and organizations — convenes under the auspices of church representatives to put forward proposals to resolve the national crisis.
Dec. 19, 1989 — West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl arrives on his first official visit to the East Germany. In Dresden he is enthusiastically received with calls of “Helmut, Helmut” and chants of “Germany united fatherland”.
Jan. 15, 1990 — Some 2,000 demonstrators storm the headquarters of the Stasi secret police in East Berlin while 100,000 demonstrate in front of the building.
Jan. 28, 1990 — Representatives of the political parties agree on the formation of a transitional government. Representatives of civil rights groups are part of the round-table talks.
Feb. 1, 1990 — Modrow as prime minister puts forward a draft for German unity to Parliament based on military neutrality and a federal structure.
Feb. 7, 1990 — The West German government decides to offer East Germany immediate talks on a currency union.
March 18, 1990 — The first free elections take place in East Germany, with a conservative alliance headed by the Christian Democratic Union taking a clear victory.
April 12, 1990 — The first freely elected East German Parliament elects Lothar de Maiziere (CDU) as prime minister.
April 23. 1990 — The West German government agrees on the basis of a treaty for currency union.
May 5, 1990 — First round of talks of the Two-plus-Four conferences gets under way with the six foreign ministers of the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, France, West Germany and East Germany in Bonn. The main point of discussion is that of allegiance.
May 18, 1990 — Signing of a treaty for economic, currency and social union. Kohl sees this as “the birth of a free and united Germany”.
July 1, 1990 — Currency union implemented. East Germany changes to the D-Mark. People crossing the inner-German border are no longer subject to controls.
July 2, 1990 — Discussions begin in East Berlin regarding the second treaty, the Unification Treaty.
July 16, 1990 — Kohl and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev announce a breakthrough in the alliance issue. Germany is to remain a member of NATO after reunification.
July 22, 1990 — The East German Parliament approves legislation on re-establishing the states within the country.
Aug. 23, 1990 — The East German Parliament approves the accession of the German Democratic Republic to the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) from Oct. 3.
Aug. 31, 1990 — The unification treaty is signed in East Berlin. Both Parliaments ratify the treaty on Sept. 20 by two-thirds majorities.
September 24, 1990 — East Germany leaves the Warsaw Pact.
Oct. 1, 1990 — Germany becomes fully sovereign. The Allies’ special rights in Berlin are abolished as of Oct. 3.
Oct. 3, 1990 — At midnight Germany’s black, red and gold flag is hoisted in front of the Reichstag to the strains of the national anthem, as hundreds of thousands celebrate on the streets of Berlin and in other cities.