HI136 The History of HI136 The History of GermanyGermany

Lecture 18Lecture 18The Collapse of The Collapse of Communism Communism

and Reunificationand Reunification

The Collapse of The Collapse of CommunismCommunism

May 1989: Hungary opens its border with Austria – hundreds of Germans May 1989: Hungary opens its border with Austria – hundreds of Germans on holiday in Hungary take the opportunity to flee to the West.on holiday in Hungary take the opportunity to flee to the West.

Mass exodus of East Germans begins, with frustrated escapees taking Mass exodus of East Germans begins, with frustrated escapees taking refuge in West German embassies in Prague & Warsaw.refuge in West German embassies in Prague & Warsaw.

Opposition groups begin to organise – new East German Social Democratic Opposition groups begin to organise – new East German Social Democratic Party founded in July, calls for an end to the single party state in August, Party founded in July, calls for an end to the single party state in August, New Forum formed in September, Democratic Beginning in October.New Forum formed in September, Democratic Beginning in October.

October 1989: Gorbachev visits East Berlin – scuffles between police & October 1989: Gorbachev visits East Berlin – scuffles between police & protesters. protesters.

9 October 1989: 70,000 protesters demonstrate in Leipzig.9 October 1989: 70,000 protesters demonstrate in Leipzig. 19 October: Honecker removed for ‘health reasons’ and replaced by Egon 19 October: Honecker removed for ‘health reasons’ and replaced by Egon

Krenz.Krenz. Planned staged opening of border crossings mishandled – 9-10 November Planned staged opening of border crossings mishandled – 9-10 November

1989: thousands of Berliners flocked to the Wall & border guards let them 1989: thousands of Berliners flocked to the Wall & border guards let them through.through.

Protests in Leipzig, 9 October 1989

East Germans scale the Berlin Wall, 9-10 November 1989

Reasons for CollapseReasons for Collapse

Domestic FactorsDomestic Factors Economic problemsEconomic problems Growing dissatisfaction with regimeGrowing dissatisfaction with regime Pressure for reformPressure for reform

International FactorsInternational Factors Reform within the Soviet UnionReform within the Soviet Union Liberalisation elsewhere in Eastern BlocLiberalisation elsewhere in Eastern Bloc Pressure from West GermanyPressure from West Germany

Economic StagnationEconomic Stagnation The GDR heavily dependent on loans from West The GDR heavily dependent on loans from West

Germany: by 1981 it owed 10,000 million dollars.Germany: by 1981 it owed 10,000 million dollars. Growth fell from 5.5% in 1984 to 2.1% in 1989.Growth fell from 5.5% in 1984 to 2.1% in 1989. The East German economy one of the strongest in the The East German economy one of the strongest in the

Soviet Bloc, but still unable to provide the standard of Soviet Bloc, but still unable to provide the standard of living enjoyed in the West.living enjoyed in the West.

Choice poor, quality low and prices high.Choice poor, quality low and prices high. Pollution from the East German industry also having a Pollution from the East German industry also having a

destructive effect on the environment.destructive effect on the environment.

Political DissentPolitical Dissent Growing dissatisfaction throughout the 1980s.Growing dissatisfaction throughout the 1980s. While other Communist states (eg. Poland & Hungary) embraced While other Communist states (eg. Poland & Hungary) embraced

Gorbachev’s reforms, the Honecker regime resisted any Gorbachev’s reforms, the Honecker regime resisted any liberalisation.liberalisation.

May 1989: Local election results expose the fraudulent nature of the May 1989: Local election results expose the fraudulent nature of the system & the extent of popular dissatisfaction.system & the extent of popular dissatisfaction.

Estimated that at least 20% of people voted against the SED’s Party Estimated that at least 20% of people voted against the SED’s Party List.List.

Opening of Hungarian border a catalyst for eruption of existing Opening of Hungarian border a catalyst for eruption of existing discontent.discontent.

Existing opposition groups organise & come out in the open in the Existing opposition groups organise & come out in the open in the summer of 1989.summer of 1989.

Indecision at the top of the SED & the lack of support from abroad Indecision at the top of the SED & the lack of support from abroad (USSR) prevent a crack down.(USSR) prevent a crack down.

Reform in the USSRReform in the USSR 1985: Mikhail Gorbachev become 1985: Mikhail Gorbachev become

General Secretary of the Russian General Secretary of the Russian Communist Party.Communist Party.

PerestroikaPerestroika (‘restructuring’): (‘restructuring’): relaxed production quotas and relaxed production quotas and introduced some free enterprise.introduced some free enterprise.

GlasnostGlasnost (‘openness’): greater (‘openness’): greater freedom of the press & freedom of the press & transparency in government transparency in government agencies.agencies.

1988: Withdrawal of troops from 1988: Withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan & 50% reduction of Afghanistan & 50% reduction of military presence in Eastern military presence in Eastern Europe.Europe.

July 1989: End to the ‘Brezhnev July 1989: End to the ‘Brezhnev Doctrine’.Doctrine’.

Reform in Eastern Reform in Eastern EuropeEurope

Poland:Poland: 1980: 1980: SolidaritySolidarity formed in Lenin shipyard in Gdansk. formed in Lenin shipyard in Gdansk. 1988: Nation-wide strikes force regime into negotiations with the 1988: Nation-wide strikes force regime into negotiations with the

opposition.opposition. March 1989: Sweeping constitutional reforms agreed.March 1989: Sweeping constitutional reforms agreed. June 1989: Communists rejected in first free election since 1939.June 1989: Communists rejected in first free election since 1939.

Hungary:Hungary: 1980s: Reformers within the Communist Party introduce limited 1980s: Reformers within the Communist Party introduce limited

economic liberalisation.economic liberalisation. 1988: Elderly Janos Kadar removed from office & reformers seize the 1988: Elderly Janos Kadar removed from office & reformers seize the

upper hand in the Politburo.upper hand in the Politburo. January 1989: Extensive political reforms agreed, including opening January 1989: Extensive political reforms agreed, including opening

borders with the West.borders with the West.

ReunificationReunification The international situation favourable towards reunification.The international situation favourable towards reunification. Economic & political collapse meant that a separate East German Economic & political collapse meant that a separate East German

state was no longer viable.state was no longer viable. Helmut Kohl pushed for a plan by which the 5 East German Helmut Kohl pushed for a plan by which the 5 East German LLänderänder

would be absorbed into the Federal Republic.would be absorbed into the Federal Republic. March 1990: Elections in the GDR – the CDU dominated Alliance for March 1990: Elections in the GDR – the CDU dominated Alliance for

Germany won the most seats & formed a Grand Coalition with the Germany won the most seats & formed a Grand Coalition with the Social Democrats & Liberals.Social Democrats & Liberals.

July 1990: Currency reform saw the Deutschmark being adopted in July 1990: Currency reform saw the Deutschmark being adopted in the East.the East.

‘‘Two plus Four’ negotiations between the former wartime allies & Two plus Four’ negotiations between the former wartime allies & the German states led to the USA, USSR, Britain & France the German states led to the USA, USSR, Britain & France renouncing their rights over Germany at midnight on 1-2 October renouncing their rights over Germany at midnight on 1-2 October 1990.1990.

2 December 1990: First all-German elections since 1933 took place 2 December 1990: First all-German elections since 1933 took place – the CDU won 43.8% of the vote, the SPD 33.5% & the FDP 11%.– the CDU won 43.8% of the vote, the SPD 33.5% & the FDP 11%.

Source: Mary Fulbrook (ed.), Germany since

1800

Germany since 1990Germany since 1990 Political unification was completed relatively quickly & smoothly, but Political unification was completed relatively quickly & smoothly, but

had lasting economic, social & cultural consequences.had lasting economic, social & cultural consequences. Since reunification Germany has faced the same problems as other Since reunification Germany has faced the same problems as other

western societies: unemployment, an aging population, immigration western societies: unemployment, an aging population, immigration etc.etc.

But they have also had to deal with the consequences of their But they have also had to deal with the consequences of their recent history.recent history.

1992: Former East German border guards tried for manslaughter, 1992: Former East German border guards tried for manslaughter, former East German leaders charged with various crimes & the former East German leaders charged with various crimes & the Stasi’s files were opened to the public.Stasi’s files were opened to the public.

Problems of forging a new ‘German’ identity – what is it to be Problems of forging a new ‘German’ identity – what is it to be German? How do the 2 Cold War states fit into this?German? How do the 2 Cold War states fit into this?

Attacks on foreign workers & asylum seekers, together with the Attacks on foreign workers & asylum seekers, together with the success of extreme right-wing parties in local elections in the 1990s success of extreme right-wing parties in local elections in the 1990s caused some excitement in the international media, but no evidence caused some excitement in the international media, but no evidence that these reflect a widespread resurgence of nationalism – rather a that these reflect a widespread resurgence of nationalism – rather a result of the slow pace of economic change in the East.result of the slow pace of economic change in the East.

Germany since 1990Germany since 1990 These problems a result of or exacerbated by economic difficulties.These problems a result of or exacerbated by economic difficulties. East Germans were ill equipped to survive in the competitive East Germans were ill equipped to survive in the competitive

atmosphere of West German capitalism – poorly trained, lacking an atmosphere of West German capitalism – poorly trained, lacking an entrepreneurial middle class & insulated from unemployment etc. for entrepreneurial middle class & insulated from unemployment etc. for 60 years they struggled to cope with changing circumstances.60 years they struggled to cope with changing circumstances.

Germans from the former GDR wanted to be treated as equals, but Germans from the former GDR wanted to be treated as equals, but were constantly reminded of the economic gap between East & were constantly reminded of the economic gap between East & West.West.

Few in the West had realised the true state of the East German Few in the West had realised the true state of the East German economy & some resented having to pay higher taxes to help economy & some resented having to pay higher taxes to help reconstruction.reconstruction.

2005: unemployment at over 12% (the highest rate since the 2005: unemployment at over 12% (the highest rate since the 1930s), with nearly 20% of the East German population out of work.1930s), with nearly 20% of the East German population out of work.

ConclusionConclusion Difficult to draw conclusions about the collapse of Communism and Difficult to draw conclusions about the collapse of Communism and

reunification due to their close proximity in time.reunification due to their close proximity in time. Why did the GDR collapse?Why did the GDR collapse?

Pace of change in Eastern EuropePace of change in Eastern Europe Gorbachev’s abandonment of the Honecker regimeGorbachev’s abandonment of the Honecker regime Brought frustration of the regime into the openBrought frustration of the regime into the open Pressure from the WestPressure from the West Structural weaknesses in the GDRStructural weaknesses in the GDR

End results of reunification remain to be seen, but it is clear that the End results of reunification remain to be seen, but it is clear that the process did not go as smoothly as some had anticipated.process did not go as smoothly as some had anticipated.