Following World War II, the territory of Germany was divided into two main administrative regions. The western region was controlled by the Western Allies, while the eastern region fell under the influence of the Soviet Union. The division in political and economic systems created tensions that ultimately led to the establishment of two separate states in 1949.
In addition to the division of the country, the city of Berlin was also divided into two sectors. The East German government began constructing a concrete barrier in 1961. The construction aimed to curb the wave of citizens migrating from the east to the west.
For nearly three decades, the 155-kilometer barrier severed transportation routes and social connections among citizens. Strict guarding along the border line made cross-border access severely restricted.
Political Pressure through the Alexanderplatz Protests
Entering the 1980s, the economy of East Germany experienced a significant decline. Public dissatisfaction with restrictions on civil rights and the economic situation triggered a wave of protests in various cities.
As an initial step, thousands of East German citizens utilized diplomatic channels in neighboring countries to move across regions. They fled through the West German embassies in Prague and Budapest. The Hungarian government also assisted by opening its land border with Austria.
The wave of peaceful demonstrations expanded across major cities such as Leipzig and Dresden through weekly protest actions. The movement peaked on November 4, 1989, in the Alexanderplatz Demonstration in East Berlin, which was attended by hundreds of thousands of East Germans. The rally became the largest demonstration demanding political reform and the end of the ruling party's monopoly on power.
At the same time, the Soviet Union under the leadership of Mikhail Gorbachev implemented political and economic reform policies. The policies reduced Soviet military intervention in the internal affairs of Eastern Bloc countries, including East Germany.
The Night the Berlin Wall Fell
On November 9, 1989, the East German government held a press conference regarding updated regulations on foreign travel. Government spokesperson Günter Schabowski received a document detailing the new visa rules just before the event began.
When asked by journalists about when the new rules would take effect, Schabowski stated that the decision was effective immediately. Information regarding the opening of border access was subsequently broadcast widely by national and international news media.
The news reports prompted thousands of citizens to gather at checkpoints all along the Berlin border. The border guards had not received official instructions regarding the use of force to disperse the crowds.
Border guards eventually opened the crossing gate at Bornholmer Straße late that evening. Thousands of citizens from both sides gathered and mingled freely across the previously heavily guarded border.
The Process Toward Official Reunification
The opening of the border triggered rapid changes in East Germany's political structure. The West German currency, the Deutsche Mark, was introduced in the east in July 1990 to integrate the economic sectors.
The governments of West Germany and East Germany promptly proceeded with official negotiations to unite their political and legal systems. Both sides drafted cooperative agreements across various public sectors.
Beyond internal talks, the unification process required the approval of the four Allied powers from World War II. The United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and France signed the Two Plus Four Agreement in Moscow in September 1990. The treaty ended the occupation rights of the four powers on German soil.
The unification process was legally finalized through the signing of the Unification Treaty. On October 3, 1990, five re-established states in the east officially joined the Federal Republic of Germany. The date was subsequently designated as German Unity Day.
