Division to unity 1949-1991: Reunification

Question 1

What was Kohl’s drive towards reunification?

Answer 1

• Invited the GDR leader (Honecker) to the FRG in 1987, the 1st visit by an East German head of state to West Germany
• They made agreements on some issues and cooperated over nuclear security
• They issued a joint statement saying that war must never again be allowed to emanate from German soil
• After Hungary opened its border in 1989, Honecker was forced out due to protests
• Chaos was now a big threat to Germany

Question 2

What was the 10 point plan?

Answer 2

• Kohl presented the Bundesrat with a 5 year programme of 10 steps to reunification
  Some of the points:
  1. Medical assistance and foreign currency for travel
  2. Help to the GDR
  3. Disarmament
  4. Joint government committee

Question 3

When was the 10 point plan made?

Answer 3

1989

Question 4

When was the Currency Treaty signed?

Answer 4

1990 (the separation of currencies was regarded as a symbol of division)

Question 5

What was the USA’s attitude towards reunification?

Answer 5

• The only occupying power which favoured it
• Supported it only if Germany would retain its NATO membership

Question 6

What was Britain and France’s attitude towards reunification?

Answer 6

They were against it and tried to persuade the USSR to stand against it

Question 7

What was the Two Plus Four agreements?

Answer 7

• Began in 1990
• 1 of the key issues was to overcome the USSR’s objections to united Germany’s NATO membership
• Western powers wanted Germany to remain in NATO

Question 8

What was the London Declaration?

Answer 8

• Signed in 1990
• Changed the terms of Germany’s NATO membership to make it appear as more of a political alliance than military

Question 9

When was the Reunification Treaty signed?

Answer 9

1990

Question 10

What was the political impact of reunification?

Answer 10

• In 1990 the 1st all German election since 1932 took place
• Kohl’s CDU/CSU was victorious and FDP emerged stronger, so a CDU/FDP coalition was established
• SPD performed poorly
• Communists returned for the 1st time since 1949
• Extreme right wing NPD failed to win sufficient votes for a seat

Question 11

What was the economic impact of reunification?

Answer 11

• State held companies were privatised which led to many industries collapsing
• Industrial production fell by 2/3 within 2 years
• GNP declined by 13.4% in 1990 and another 20% in 1991
• Eastern Recovery Programme was launched in 1991 which put government money into housing, agriculture and infrastructure
• Income rose by 28% between 1989-1991
• 175,000 new businesses were founded

Question 12

What was the social impact of reunification?

Answer 12

• Reports of rising crime rates and youth delinquency
• Fears of a new German nationalism
• Judiciary and education system was reformed
• 21% had moved to a new job after reunification and 10% had taken early retirement
• Less need for manual labour and the highly trained could do better than before
• New opportunities for young people