Collapse of Communism in East Germany dates

Erich Honecker becomes General Secretary of the SED

Context: East Germany relied on economic growth to maintain SED legitimacy; citizens expected consumer goods comparable to other socialist states.

Action: Honecker pursued a pro-consumer economic policy, expanding the availability of goods and raising standards of living.

Outcome: Initially supported regime legitimacy, but systemic inefficiencies and external pressures would later undermine economic stability.

1 May 1971

Economic stagnation and domestic distortions

Context: Oil price shocks and Soviet economic stagnation limited East Germany’s ability to import cheap energy and maintain subsidies. Command economy inefficiencies—low productivity, under-investment, and price distortions—exacerbated shortages.

Action: Black-market activity increased; workers turned to informal markets, reducing productivity in state industries.

Outcome: Public dissatisfaction rose, eroding SED legitimacy, especially as East Germans observed West German prosperity.

1970s (late)

Berlin Accords (Quadripartite Agreement)

Context: Ostpolitik aimed to normalize East-West German relations, allowing social, cultural, and economic penetration from the West.

Action: West Berlin’s status confirmed; West Berliners could visit East Germany.

Outcome: Provided consumer goods and exposure to Western culture, increasing public awareness of the SED’s shortcomings.

3 Dec 1971

Basic Treaty

Context: Ostpolitik (a foreign policy that aims to build warmer relations with East Germany since the 1960s)  continued; mutual recognition of the two German states facilitated trade and diplomatic engagement.

Action: East and West Germany formally recognized each other without removing reunification as a future possibility.

Outcome: Expanded trade and social exchanges further eroded SED legitimacy as citizens compared life with West Germans.

21 Dec 1972

Rising domestic discontent

Context: Economic mismanagement, shortages, and the visibility of Western living standards fueled popular frustration.

Action: Opposition movements began to form, coordinating protests through Protestant churches and discussion groups.

Outcome: Structured opposition laid the foundation for mass demonstrations in the late 1980s.

Early 1980s

Gorbachev advises Honecker

Context: Gorbachev’s foreign policy emphasized reform and non-intervention in Eastern Bloc affairs.

Action: Advised Honecker to allow political reform and respond to protests constructively.

Outcome: East Germany could no longer rely on Soviet backing to suppress domestic unrest, emboldening opposition.

10 Sep 1989

Monday Demonstrations (Montagsdemonstrationen)

Context: Churches provided a safe platform for protest. Growing dissatisfaction, exposure to Western living standards, and political grievances fuelled participation.

Action: Demonstrations expanded: September – hundreds; 2 October – 10,000; 16 October – 200,000; 17 November – 500,000.

Outcome: Massive protests forced the SED to consider concessions; suppression risked domestic and international backlash.

Sep-Oct 1989

Hungarian border opening begins

Context: Gorbachev endorsed reforms in the Soviet bloc; Hungary liberalized its borders with Austria.

Action: East Germans fled to the West, approximately 37,000 by year-end.

Outcome: East German control weakened; public trust and SED legitimacy declined further

10 Sep 1989

Honecker resigns

Context: Sustained protests, emigration, and absence of Soviet support destabilized Honecker’s position.

Action: Egon Krenz became head of state with Gorbachev’s blessing.

Outcome: Leadership change failed to calm unrest, accelerating calls for reform.

18 October 1989

Opening of the Berlin Wall

Context: Krenz announced relaxed travel restrictions and promoted reformist officials.

Action: Spokesman Günter Schabowski miscommunicated that the border was open immediately; citizens surged to checkpoints.

Outcome: Border guards allowed passage, leading to the fall of the Berlin Wall. Symbolized collapse of SED authority.

8-9 Nov 1989

SED loses political control

Context: Fall of the Wall and ongoing protests undermined regime authority.

Action: Krenz swore in coalition government; Volkskammer removed SED’s constitutional primacy; Politburo and Central Committee resigned.

Outcome: Established conditions for free elections on 18 March 1990, ending Communist rule.

18 Nov-3 Dec 1989

Free elections 

Context: Collapse of SED rule necessitated democratic elections.

Action: Citizens voted for a freely elected parliament.

Outcome: Set the stage for reunification negotiations

18 Mar 1990

Gorbachev meets West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl

Context: German reunification negotiations began; USSR reconsidered strategic priorities.

Action: Discussions on reunification terms proceeded peacefully.

Outcome: Laid groundwork for German reunification, easing East-West tensions.

July 1990

German reunification

Context: Political, social, and economic pressures, combined with Soviet acquiescence, made reunification feasible.
Action: East and West Germany formally reunified.

Outcome: Ended East German Communist regime; and concluded the division of Germany.

3 Oct 1990