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The Fall of the Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall fell on November 9, 1989, when Guenter Schabowski gave a press conference regarding a new travel regulation for GDR citizens.
[Courtesy of Gulag History, 1989] -
Helmut Kohl's Bundestag Speech
In Helmut Kohl's Bundestag Speech, he outlined his Ten Points for German Unity through which he hoped to accomplish both German and European unity by reunifying Germany. In this speech, Kohl stressed that East Germany must change their ways to match the rest of Europe, foreshadowing how West Berlin would replace the customs in East Berlin.
[Courtesy of German Missions, 1989] -
The GDR's First Free Elections
Under the guidance and influence of Helmut Kohl, The GDR held their first free elections on March 18, 1990, showing the beginnings of their transition to a democracy as a result of Helmut Kohl.
[Courtesy of German Missions, 1990] -
Signing of "The State Treaty between the FRG and the GDR on the Creation of a Monetary, Economic, and Social Union"
By agreeing on the implementation of the FRG’s political, economic, and social systems into the new eastern states, this treaty set the foundation for German reunification.
[Courtesy of AKG images, 1990] -
Adoption of the Deutschmark
The adoption of the Deutchmark in July of 1990 was a result of the signing of "The State Treaty between the FRG and the GDR on the Creation of a Monetary, Economic, and Social Union" and was the first change that East Germany implemented in order to reunify with West Germany.
[Courtesy of Database.us] -
Signing of the "Unification Treaty"
This treaty between the FRG and the GDR outlined the logistics of reunifying the two countries and determined the conversion of the GDR from a command economy to a market economy.
[Courtesy to German History Documents, 1990] -
Signing of the "Treaty on the Final Settlement With Respect to Germany" also known as the "Two Plus Four Treaty"
This treaty, also known as the Two Plus Four Treaty, was the final step to reunification. By solidifying German self control in the aftermath of World War Two, this treaty formally ended influence of the Soviet Union and communism in East Germany.
[Courtesy of Deutschlande.de, 1990] -
The Official Reunification of Germany
Following the three treaties, East and West Germany officially reunified on October 3, 1990, changing East Germany's formerly communist systems into democratic ones.
[Courtesy to Spiegel, 1990]
