German reunification

German reunification (Deutsche Wiedervereinigung) took place on October 3, 1990, when the areas of the former German Democratic Republic (GDR, in English often called "East Germany") were incorporated into the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG, or "West Germany"). After the GDR's first free elections on 18 March 1990, negotiations between the GDR and FRG culminated in a Unification Treaty, whilst negotiations between the GDR and FRG and the four occupying powers produced the so-called "Two Plus Four Treaty" granting full independence to a reunified German state. The reunified Germany remained a member of the European Community (later European Union) and NATO. The term "reunification" is used in contrast with the initial unification of Germany in 1871.

The end of the division (?Wende?)

By the mid-1980s, the prospect of German reunification was widely regarded within both East and West Germany as a distant hope, unattainable as long as Communist governments ruled Eastern Europe. However, the hope of reunification was suddenly placed within reach by political changes within the Soviet Union. The advent of reformist Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in 1985 caused waves of reform to propagate throughout the Eastern bloc, presenting an opportunity for change in the GDR.

Related Topics:
1980s - Mikhail Gorbachev - 1985

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In August 1989, Hungary removed its border restrictions with Austria and in September more than 13,000 East Germans escaped to the West through Hungary. Mass demonstrations against the East German regime began in late 1989, most prominently the Monday demonstrations in Leipzig. Faced with civil unrest, East German leader Erich Honecker was forced to resign on October 18, 1989. The travel restrictions for East Germans were subsequently removed by the new government on November 9, 1989, and many people immediately went to the Wall where the border guards opened access points and allowed them through. Emboldened, many Germans on both sides began to tear down sections of the Wall itself, leading to one of the most enduring news stories of the 20th century.

Related Topics:
1989 - Hungary - Monday demonstrations - Leipzig - Erich Honecker - October 18 - November 9 - One of the most enduring news stories of the 20th century

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On March 18, 1990 the first and only free elections in the history of the GDR were held, producing a government whose major mandate was to negotiate an end to itself and its state. As one East German ideologist noted in 1989, "Poland would remain Poland even if communism fell, but without communism East Germany has no reason to exist."

Related Topics:
March 18 - 1990

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Under Prime Minister Lothar de Maizière, East Germany negotiated with West Germany, the United Kingdom, France, the United States and the Soviet Union the preconditions for a German reunification. Despite not opposing reunification in principle, the Soviet Union objected to East Germany being absorbed into the NATO allliance. However, an agreement was reached which allowed a reunified Germany to remain a part of NATO on the condition that NATO troops were not to be stationed in East German territory.

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Parallel to the multilateral negotiations, bilateral negotiations between the East and West German governments led to the signing on 18 May of an agreement for an intermediate step, an Economic, Social and Currency Union, which entered into force on 1 July. On 23 August the East German Parliament (Volkskammer) approved the proposed 3 October accession to the FRG. The German "Einigungsvertrag" (Unification Treaty) was signed on August 31, 1990 by representatives of the FRG and GDR. On September 12, 1990 the Treaty on the Final Settlement With Respect to Germany (Two Plus Four Treaty) was signed and officially reestablished the sovereignty of both German states.

Related Topics:
Volkskammer - August 31 - 1990 - September 12 - Treaty on the Final Settlement With Respect to Germany - Two Plus Four Treaty

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Germany was officially reunified on October 3, 1990 (this is an arbitrary date for the "Day of Reunification"), when the five reestablished federal states (Bundesländer) of East Germany formally joined the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany), choosing one of two options implemented in the West German constitution (Grundgesetz). As the new founded German states formally joined the Federal Republic, the area in which the Grundgesetz (basic law) served as constitution was simply extended. The other choice would have been for East Germany to join as a whole along the lines of a formal union between two German states that then would have had to, amongst other things, create a new constitution for the newly established country. Though the option chosen clearly was simpler, it is and has been responsible for sentiments in the East of being "occupied" or "annexed" by the old Federal Republic.

Related Topics:
October 3 - 1990 - ''Bundesländer'' - Federal Republic of Germany - Grundgesetz

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To facilitate this process and to reassure other countries, the FRG made some changes to the "Basic Law" (constitution). Article 146 was amended so that Article 23 of the current constitution could be used for reunification. Then once the five "reestablished federal states" in East Germany had joined, the Basic Law was amended again to indicate that there were no other parts of Germany, which existed outside of the unified territory, that had not acceded. But the constitution can be amended again at some future date and it still permits the adoption of another constitution by the German people at some time in the future.

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