The fall of the Wall and reunification

In short: On 9 November 1989 the Berlin Wall opened; on 3 October 1990 Germany was reunified. Triggers were mass protests in the GDR, reforms in the Soviet Union and the exodus via Hungary.

In more detail: The peaceful revolution of 1989 demanded freedom to travel and free elections. The Monday demonstrations in Leipzig grew to hundreds of thousands.

In detail

• Border opening: On the evening of 9 November Politburo member Günter Schabowski announced immediate freedom to travel; thousands went to the border crossings.
• Treaties: The Two Plus Four Treaty with the victorious powers enabled full sovereignty.
• Unification Treaty: Accession of the GDR to the Federal Republic under Article 23 of the Basic Law on 3 October 1990.
• Consequences: Restructuring of the economy, unemployment in the East; equalising living conditions remains a topic today.
• Holiday: 3 October is German Unity Day.
• European: With the end of the Eastern Bloc the EU also grew eastwards (europaeische-union-geschichte-und-aufbau).