German reunification
German reunification refers toreunificationWest GermanyEast Germany undersingle government. An agreement was reached fortwo-stage planreunite Germany on February 13, 1990 andplan went into effect on October 3 byabsorptionEast Germany intoFederal RepublicGermany (West Germany). This also extendedareapopulation ofEuropean Union.AfterendWorld War II, Germany was divided into four occupation zonesareas east ofOder-Neisse line placed under Polish administration. Althoughintent was forfour occupation zonesbe temporary,Cold War intervenedin 1949,western three zones formedFederal RepublicGermany whileeastern Russian zone formedGerman Democratic Republic. The old capitalBerlin, although ineastern zone, was itself subdivided into four occupation zones,as relationships cooledwestern portion ofcity was surrounded byBerlin Wall1961.
The first proposalGerman reunification was advanced byRussians1952 under terms similarthose adoptedAustria. It called forcreation ofneutral Germanyan eastern border onOder-Neisseall allied troops removed withinyear. The West German government under Konrad Adenauer favored closer integrationwestern Europeasked thatreunification be negotiated withprovision that there be internationally monitored elections throughout Germany. This condition was rejected bySoviets.
Bymid-1980s,prospectGerman reunification was widely regarded within both Germanies asdistant hope, unattainable asas communists ruled Eastern Europe. This hope was suddenly placed within reach by political changes withinSoviet Union.
In August 1989, Hungary removed its border restrictionsAustriain September more than 13,000 East Germans escaped toWest through Hungary. Mass demonstrations againstEast Germany regime beganlate 1989. Erich Honecker resignedOctober, 1989. The travel restrictionsEast Germans were removed bynew government on November 9, 1989,many people immediately went toWall whereborder guards opened access pointsallowed them through.
The costreunification has beenheavy burden toGerman economy, that can't afford anymorebelocomotive ofEuropean economy.
The former Communist partyEast Germany (SED)still an important forcethose territories withnamePartyDemocratic Socialism (PDS).
