Reunification of Germany

How did the fall of the Berlin Wall contribute to the collapse of communist rule?

It showed the SED had lost control; symbolised regime failure; didn’t stop emigration; sparked Kohl’s Ten-Point Plan and SED divisions.

What reforms did Krenz propose?

Free elections, end to censorship, and limited economic liberalisation.

When did the SED lose its monopoly on power?

1 December 1989.

When did the CDU leave the National Front?

4 December 1989.

When did Hans Modrow become Prime Minister?

13 November 1989.

When did Modrow become de facto GDR leader?

4 December 1989

When did Krenz resign as SED head and what was the impact?

4 December 1989; Hans Modrow became de facto leader of the GDR.

How was power shifting in late 1989?

From the Communist Party (SED) to the state government.

What was Modrow’s political approach?

Advocated a ‘third way’ between capitalism and communism to avoid reunification; renamed the Stasi.

Why did the SED’s power collapse?

Support shifted to reunification; loss of ideological confidence; divisions within SED; no repression; loss of grassroots and regional support.

How did the SED try to distance itself from former leaders?

8 December 1989 – Honecker, Mielke, and others charged with corruption; moderates took over; Politburo and Central Committee abolished; party renamed SED-PDS.

Give three reasons support for reunification increased.

SED collapse; distrust of authorities; ongoing emigration and chaos; Kohl’s leadership and intervention.

Give one piece of evidence for growing reunification support.

Leipzig survey: support rose from 39% (Dec 1989) to 72% (Feb 1990).

Give two reasons trust in authorities collapsed.

Scandals of corruption and privilege among leaders; revelations of Stasi repression and destroyed evidence.

Give two pieces of evidence of mass emigration after the Wall fell.

5 million visited West Berlin in November 1989; 17,500 applied for exit visas within 10 days; 70,000 emigrated in January 1990.

What was the Round Table?

Forum including former bloc organisations and new opposition groups to design democratic reforms.

What did the Round Table advocate?

Democratic reforms, new constitution, and end of the Stasi; supported reform not reunification.

When did the Round Table meet?

December 1989 to March 1990.

What was Alliance 90?

Coalition of opposition groups (IFM, New Forum, Democracy Now) advocating reform but not unification.

When were the GDR elections?

March 1990.

How did Alliance 90 perform in the 1990 elections?

Won 2.9% of the vote due to limited organisation and low support for gradual reform.

How did the PDS (former SED) perform?

Won 16% of the vote.

How was the FRG involved in the 1990 GDR elections?

West German CDU and SPD supported and absorbed their East German counterparts.

Who won the 1990 GDR elections?

Alliance for Germany (CDU-led coalition) with 48%.

What did the March 1990 election results show?

Majority supported rapid reunification.

Who became GDR leader after the election?

CDU leader Lothar de Maizière.

Who was the FRG Chancellor?

Helmut Kohl.

What was Kohl’s initial attitude toward reunification?

Favoured a gradual 5–10 year process to avoid economic disruption.

What plan did Kohl propose for reunification?

Ten-Point Plan (November 1989) starting with economic cooperation and a confederation.

Why did Kohl shift to supporting rapid reunification?

Rapid GDR collapse, rising support from the USA and USSR, and strong pro-unity sentiment in the East.

Give three ways Kohl contributed to reunification.

His Ten-Point Plan initiated the process; campaign for Alliance for Germany; secured international backing (US and USSR); negotiated Soviet troop withdrawal funding.

What were the three treaties that finalised unification?

Treaty for Currency Union, Unification Treaty, and Two Plus Four Treaty.

What did the Treaty for Currency Union do?

Created economic union; adopted FRG’s market economy; fixed 1:1 Ostmark–Deutschemark exchange rate.

What was an unintended effect of the Currency Union?

End of subsidies and Western competition caused unemployment and strikes.

What did the Unification Treaty do?

Integrated GDR into FRG as five Länder; addressed constitution, property, and social laws; united Berlin.

What did the Two Plus Four Treaty do?

Legalised reunification with consent of GDR, FRG, and wartime Allies; agreed borders; Soviet troop withdrawal funded by FRG.

When was Germany officially reunified?

3 October 1990.

What evidence shows public approval for reunification?

December 1990 FRG elections – Kohl’s CDU won 44% and 60% of Bundestag seats.

Give four reasons reunification happened so quickly.

Weak and divided opposition; collapse of SED; weakening USSR; Kohl’s diplomacy and FRG’s economic strength; mass popular desire for unity; worsening GDR economy.

What was ‘Ostalgie’?

Nostalgia for aspects of GDR life (e.g. full employment, welfare, equality) lost after reunification, amid 30% unemployment.