German Reunification Flashcards
1989-1990: Die Wende
1989-1990: The change
1989-1990: The change
1989-1990: Die Wende
There were several important factors to be overcome for reunification: (3)
1) East + West were completely different societies.
2) Germany esp. Berlin had been the centre of the cold war and so unification could only happen with agreement of the USA and the USSR.
3) The leader of the main opposition (SPD) in West Germany was opposed to rapid reunification
Several reasons why pressure for reunification increased in 1990:
1) Huge loans made by West to bail out Bankrupt East.
2) The whole emigration thing.
3) Gorbachev assured Kohl that he would not oppose re-unification in return for West German loans.
4) Overwhelming support in East Germany as shown by free elections in March 1990.
5) on 2 Oct 1990, all the former wartime Allies dropped any claims they had to Germany, paving the way to international recognition of country.
By YYYY, 133 billion Deutschmarks paid to the USSR and the countries that replaced it.
By 1997, X paid to the USSR and the countries that replaced it.
By 1997, X paid to the USSR and the countries that replaced it.
By YYYY, 133 billion Deutschmarks paid to the USSR and the countries that replaced it.
When where the free elections that showed massive eastern support for reunification?
2 Oct 1990
When were the currencies merged?
May 1990
What happened value wise when they merged the currencies?
East Ostmark = 1 West Deutschmark
Before O had been worth much less.
What was a consequence in merging the currencies?
Massive demand in West consumer products, which lead to unemployment in the East.
By when were 20% of eastern workers unemployed?
Summer of 1990
In the summer of 1990 what percentage of eastern workers were unemployed?
20%
When was the Treaty of Unification?
31 August 1990
What was the Treaty of Unification?
It was just clarifying the terms of the east becoming part of the West.
What day was the government vote for reunification?
20 September 1990
