Timeline Of Events Leading Up To The Fall Of The Berlin Wall

Timeline Of Events Leading Up To The Fall Of The Berlin Wall And German Reunification

Published by Articulate Engage www.articulate.com 1990 Timeline Of E

Published by Articulate® Engage™ 1990 Timeline of Events Introduction Event Text Click on the circles below to travel through a 1990 timeline of events that led up to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of Germany. 1990 January Event Text Despite agreements reached at the Round Table talks that there would be no financial assistance from political parties in the West, the large West German parties helped finance the election campaigns for their newly founded branches in the East. The East German parties that had spearheaded the opposition in the fall were impeded by their vision of a new East German society operating on the basis of unanimity. New Forum and other grassroots political parties were quickly out-financed and left behind in the race for political support. In the first free elections in the East, these parties received only 2.9 percent of the vote. February 1 Event Text Modrow presented an East German plan for the reunification of Germany, one that called for military neutrality. Published by Articulate® Engage™ February 14 Event Text The "two plus four" talks on German reunification began between the foreign ministers of the two Germanys and those of the four major World War II Allies: the United States, the Soviet Union, France, and Great Britain. Modrow called for a currency union with the West, and the West pulled back its offer of immediate financial help for the East (in the range of fifteen billion DM). The idea of political reform in the East became less and less of an issue for the citizens, who were now calling for a rapid reunification into a larger, democratic Germany. March 14 Event Text The first formal meeting of the "two plus four" talks was held in Bonn. The idea of German reunification was met with opposition from some of the country's European neighbors, and the question of a unified Germany joining NATO was discussed, as well as the question of the unified country's military and civil rights. March 18 Event Text The first free, multi-party elections were held in the GDR. They resulted in a major victory for the Alliance for Germany, a group dominated by the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), that had campaigned for a fast unification of the two states according to Article 23 of the West German Basic Law (constitution). The three largest parties of the Federal Republic won a large majority--the CDU alliance (forty-eight percent), the SPD (twenty-two percent) and the Free Democrats (FDP). They took office in the GDR as a Grand Coalition dedicated to unification on West German terms. The rump SED socialist party, the PDS, won only sixteen percent. Lothar de Maiziere (CDU) was chosen by the Volkskammer to be prime minister one month later on April 12. April 24 Event Text Chancellor Kohl and Prime Minister Maiziere agreed on July 1, 1990, as the date for merging the economies of the two German states and began formal negotiations on the terms of reunification. May 6 Published by Articulate® Engage™ Event Text Local elections in the GDR were dominated by the parties of the Grand Coalition; the CDU won thirty-four percent of the vote; the SPD twenty one percent; the PDS fifteen percent. May Event Text While conducting official talks, Chancellor Kohl and Prime Minister de Maiziere agreed to "the creation of a monetary, economic, and social union" between the two German states. June 21 Event Text The two corresponding parliaments, the West German Bundestag and the East German Volkskammer, approved the treaty laying out terms for economic and monetary union of the two Germanys. Published by Articulate® Engage™ June 21 Event Text The two corresponding parliaments, the West German Bundestag and the East German Volkskammer, approved the treaty laying out terms for economic and monetary union of the two Germanys. Published by Articulate® Engage™ July 1 Event Text The monetary union took effect, with the West German Mark becoming the legal currency for both German states. East Germans were allowed to exchange the old currency in their bank accounts at a rate of 1:1 for the new Mark, up to a limit, and then the rest at a 2:1 rate. August 23 Event Text After heated debate, the East German Volkskammer agreed on October 3, 1990, as the date for the reunification of Germany. August 31 Event Text The two Germanys signed the unification treaty. It was ratified on September 20 by the Bundestag by a vote of 442 to 47 and by the East German Volkskammer by a vote of 229 to 101. September 9 Event Text Former U.S. President Ronald Reagan visited Berlin. Three years before he had stood at the Brandenburg Gate and cried, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" September 12 Event Text The foreign ministers of the Federal Republic of Germany, the GDR, France, the Soviet Union, Great Britain, and the United States signed a treaty laying out the "final settlement on Germany." The four Allies' control over Germany, maintained since the end of World War II, finally came to an end, and Germany gained once again "full sovereignty over its internal and external affairs." All of Germany's existing borders were recognized. Published by Articulate® Engage™ September 13 Event Text West Germany signed a bilateral treaty with the Soviet Union calling for friendly relations and cooperation. The Soviets agreed to remove all troops from East Germany. September 24 Event Text East Germany formally withdrew from the Warsaw Pact. October 1 Event Text In New York, the four Allied powers signed a declaration granting full sovereignty to the new united Germany. October 3 Event Text After forty-five years of a divided Germany, the GDR and the FRG were unified into a single state. The formal event took place in Berlin and was officially marked by an address by the president of the Federal Republic, Richard von Weizsäcker. This day was now the "Tag der Deutschen Einheit," or the day of German unification. Exercise 4: Some metabolic activities of bacteria 1. What is the color of phenol red at an acid pH? 2. What is the function of a Durham tube? 3. Why is iodine used to detect starch hydrolysis? 4. How is indole produced in SIM medium? How is it detected? 5. How is hydrogen sulfide demonstrated in this medium? Exercise 5: Fungi, yeasts and molds 1. What is the advantage of viewing mold structures in a transparent tape preparation? 2. What fungus can be identified reliably by using the germ tube test? 3. Name three stains or reagents that may be used to facilitate the microscopic detection of fungi in clinical samples. 4. What is the main advantage of using the slide culture technique for identifying molds? 5. What is an opportunistic pathogen? Name three fungal specimens. Published by Articulate® Engage™ 1989 Timeline of Events Introduction Event Text Click on the circles below to travel through a 1989 timeline of events that led up to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of Germany. 1989 January 15 Event Text On the seventieth anniversary of Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg's murder, hundreds demonstrated in Leibzig, East Germany for the right of free expression, free assembly, and freedom of the press. Around eighty demonstrators were arrested when police arrived and broke up the demonstration. February through April Event Text The East German Communist party and the oppositional Solidarity party agreed to hold free elections in the East. April Event Text The Chinese army massacred more than 5,000 student demonstrators in Tiananmen Square. The East German leaders supported the Chinese communist government's decision. When faced with growing demonstrations in the upcoming autumn, the prospect of a violent crackdown by security forces became known as the "China solution." Ironically, during this month the GDR abolished the "shoot to kill" policy for the border patrols. Published by Articulate® Engage™ May 2 Event Text Hungary began to dismantle its border fortifications into Austria. Soon after, citizens of the GDR fled through Hungary, over the border, and into Austria and sought asylum in the West. June Event Text Solidarity, the oppositional party, won the parliamentary elections in Poland. August through September Event Text East Germans vacationing in Hungary began to flee to West Germany through Austria in large numbers. Also, large numbers of defectors took shelter in West German embassies in Prague, Budapest, and Warsaw to pressure the East into allowing them free passage to the West. However, due to the chaotic conditions in the embassies, which were overflowing with exiles, Hungary opened its borders on September 11 to East Germans who wished to emigrate, despite opposition from the GDR. In only three days, more than 15,000 people flooded into West Germany. On September 30, East Germans who sought refuge in the embassies were granted permission from the GDR for passage to the West. As the trains carrying the exiles passed through East German railway stations, others jumped on and escaped to West Germany. The opening of the borders of many other East-bloc countries to the West forced East Germany to restrict the travel of its citizens in the East. Also during September, the East German oppositional party Neues Forum, or New Forum, was formed. It requested approval for political unification with the West, as well as establishment of official local chapters throughout East Germany. Their requests were turned down. However, encouraged by the Glasnost countries, hundreds of members of church and civil rights groups began demonstrating on Mondays in Leipzig. During these Monday demonstrations (see later) the people called for a government responsive to their needs, independent parties, freedom of speech, freedom of press, and freedom of travel. On September 4, 11, and 18, East German police used violence to break up the demonstrations and arrested some of the leaders. Published by Articulate® Engage™ October 7 Event Text The fortieth anniversary of the founding of the GDR was celebrated with large state celebrations, including a visit by Gorbachev. East German leaders assured Soviet officials that the situation in their country would be stable in time for the anniversary celebrations. Gorbachev informed the GDR leaders that the Soviet Union would not interfere in East German affairs, but is said to have warned the head of the East German state and party, Erich Honecker, that "history punishes the latecomer." The opposition, under the leadership of the New Forum, organized mass demonstrations in all the major East German cities. That evening, the police used violence to brutally disperse the demonstrators and arrested 1,050 citizens. Published by Articulate® Engage™ October 9 Event Text Seventy thousand demonstrators pushed through the downtown area of Leipzig in protest. Erich Honeker ordered that the demonstration be crushed, if necessary, with weapons. However, his security apparatus did not obey him. Just nine days later he resigned from power. October 18 Event Text After eighteen years, Erich Honeker resigned from the position of state and party leader and was succeeded by Egon Krenz. Krenz made known his plans for a political Wende, or reform, and shortly thereafter a number of leading politicians and functionaries were removed from power and replaced with new, reform-minded leaders. However, Krenz did not intend to institute a democracy, but rather pushed for reforms in East German socialism. October 27 Event Text The government gave amnesty to those trying to flee the country and those arrested during the recent demonstrations. Massive demonstrations, primarily in Dresden and Leipzig, continued until the end of October, however. November 4 Event Text Close to one million citizens demonstrated at Alexanderplatz in East Berlin (10,000 in other cities) and were addressed by both SED and opposition leaders as well as by leading East German writers and intellectuals. Booing the state party speakers, the demonstrators called for a new democratic form of government in which the people were truly the state. The call went out for a new form of socialism. Also, the borders into other countries were opened once again, and within two days more than 15,000 people left the GDR. Some regard this as the falling of the Iron Curtain. November 7 Published by Articulate® Engage™ Event Text The government of the GDR resigned, and the next day a new Politburo was formed. The opposition party New Forum was made legal. November 9 Event Text In a poorly organized and orchestrated late-night press conference, Krenz opened the Berlin Wall, announcing that East Germans could now travel freely to the West. Ironically, this move was a last-ditch effort to stop the flow of East German exiles to the West (more than 50,000 had, by this point, left the country), which was the same reason the wall had been constructed in 1961. Hundreds of thousands of GDR and FRG citizens crowded the wall to rejoice. As many celebrated at the Brandenburg gate, climbing up onto the wall, feelings of brotherhood and jubilation abounded. November 10 through November 11 Event Text Crowds of East Germans (more than 200,000) crossed through the wall to visit West Berlin. Chancellor Helmut Kohl canceled a trip to Poland and addressed a large crowd at the City Hall in West Berlin. Shops and banks stayed open late to accommodate the large influx of visitors (German businesses usually closed around 6:00 p.m.). The West German government announced that each East German visitor would receive fifty West German Marks to spend during their initial visit. The exchange rate for the East German Mark (maintained officially at 1-to-1 in the GDR) went from 7-1 to 10-1 and even higher at banks in the West. November 12 Event Text West Berlin Mayor Mompers and East Berlin Mayor Krack opened the wall at the Potsdamer Platz. Published by Articulate® Engage™ November 13 Event Text Hans Modrow, an opponent of Honecker who had been pushed to the margins of the SED party, was elected the new president of the GDR. The East German Volkskammer expelled Honecker and twenty-six other members. Modrow instituted a program of democratization and social renewal but refuted any claims that a reunification would take place. November 28 Event Text West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl delivered his ten-point program that, through new forms of cooperation, would lead to the reunification of Germany. East German intellectuals, including Egon Krenz, signed the petition "For Our Country," which encouraged East Germans to work for a new, democratic socialist state in the East as an alternative to the Federal Republic. December 7 Event Text Following Krenz's resignation on the previous day, opposition leaders began the "Round Table" talks with the SED on the structure for a new society and the format for the new elections in March. December 17 Event Text The SED changed its name from Socialist Unity party to the Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS; which was soon widely referred to as "Praktisch das Selbe" [Practically the Same Thing]). Also, from November to December, massive demonstrations took place in Prague, resulting in the old communist regime's resignation, and Marian Calfa's opposition party gained the majority vote. December 20 through 23 Published by Articulate® Engage™ Event Text During a visit to East Germany, French President Mitterrand declared that France would not oppose the reunification of Germany. The Brandenburg Gate was opened to pedestrians. In Romania, the Stalinist dictator Ceausescu was forced from office after a bloody uprising of the people. December 31, New Year's Eve Event Text During New Year's celebrations in Berlin, throngs of East German citizens invaded the Stasi (State Security police) headquarters. They ransacked the building and much of its secret files on East German citizens. Lesson 9: German Reunification Lesson Essay When you can accomplish the learning objectives for this lesson, you should begin work on the lesson essay described below. You may use any assigned readings, your notes, and other course-related materials to complete this assignment. Be sure to reread the essay grading criteria on the Grades and Assessments page. This essay should be about 1,000 words long, typed double space with one-inch margins on each side. It is worth 150 points and should address the following: What, in your opinion, were the major problems that emerged from the fall of the wall for the newly united Germany? Could some of these problems have been avoided? How? In answering these questions, you need to reflect upon and refer to the various events outlined in this lesson. Who were the players during the "two plus four" negotiations and what were their interests? What was the overall mood in Germany at the time and how would the alternatives you suggest have affected that mood? Learning Objectives After completing this lesson, you should be able to do the following: · Discuss the overall reasons that led to the collapse of the German Democratic Republic. · Chronicle the events that led to the fall of the wall in 1989 and German reunification in 1990. · Elaborate on the remaining problems and challenges for Germany since 1990. Commentary

Paper For Above instruction

The fall of the Berlin Wall and the subsequent reunification of Germany marked a pivotal moment in European history, signifying the end of Cold War divisions and heralding the beginning of a reunified German nation. While the political and diplomatic processes of reunification were largely successful in achieving sovereignty and unity, they also introduced several intricate problems that the newly united Germany faced in the following decades. These challenges stemmed from economic disparities, social integration issues, political tensions, and the legacy of divided histories, all of which continue to influence Germany’s trajectory today.

One of the most significant problems emerging from the fall of the wall was economic disparity between the former East and West Germany. The economic systems of these regions had diverged sharply over the four decades of separation—West Germany's market economy and robust industrial base contrasted with East Germany's socialist planned economy, which had become inefficient and underfunded. The rapid integration mandated by the monetary and economic union, initiated on July 1, 1990, created a substantial economic shock for the East. East German industries were ill-prepared for competition with their Western counterparts, leading to high unemployment, plant closures, and a widening economic gap. Experts argue that this disparity could have been mitigated through phased integration strategies and targeted investments, allowing East Germany to adjust gradually rather than experiencing an immediate market entry shock (Schäfer, 2008).

Social integration also posed profound challenges. The lifestyle, cultural norms, and political attitudes cultivated under socialist rule often clashed with the democratic and capitalist ethos of West Germany. East Germans faced difficulties in adjusting to free-market consumerism, Western social norms, and political liberalization. Moreover, the disparity in living standards fostered feelings of resentment and alienation among East Germans, many of whom felt marginalized or