Reunification Of Germany Essay, Research Paper

Introduction

Germany lies in central Europe. It borders France, Switzerland, Austria,

Czechoslovakia, Poland, Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg, and it has a

short coastline on the North and Baltic Seas. The northern part of the country is mostly

flat. The terrain is hilly in Central and Southern Germany. The Alps run along the border

with Austria. More than one quarter of the land is still under forest cover. Major rivers

include Rhine in the west, Danube in the south, Elbe and Weser in the north, and Oder in

the east. The climate is moderate; mild summers and cool winters. Major exports are

machinery, motor vehicles, electrical equipment and chemicals. The estimated population

in 1996 was 77,030,00. Germany s capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany is a federal

republic, the government s main bodies include a parliament, a federal chancellor and a

cabinet. In order to better understand the present state in Germany, I am presenting a

brief political summary.

History

Germany was a unified country from 1871 to 1945. When Hitler committed

suicide in Berlin that year, Germany was left in ruins. Bombings had destroyed cities,

industries and transportation . Victorious allies agreed to divide Germany into four

zones, but they could not agree on how to reunite the four zones. As a result,

in 1949, Germany was divided into two states; the Federal Republic of Germany(West

Germany) which emerged from the three western zones, U.S.A., Great Britain and France,

and the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) created from the Soviet Unions

zone.

West Germany

Any chance that Germany may have reunified in the 1950 s was erased by

Conrad Adenauer, West German Chancellor. Adenauer did not trust Soviet intentions and

opted for relations with the U.S.A. and Western Europe. His government brought an

amazing economic recovery to West Germany, which helped the republic to gain the

support of its citizens. The relationship between East and West Germany continued to

deteriorate with the pressures of the Cold War. The Berlin Wall was constructed on

August 13, 1961. Although he was committed to democracy, Adenauer s pushy style led

to his retirement in 1963. His party, the Christian Democrats remained in power until

1969, when the Social Democrats, led by Willy Brandt came into power. Brandt s chief

contribution was “Ostopolitik” which led to the establishment of diplomatic relations with

east bloc countries. Relaxed tensions let West Germans visit friends and relatives in

the East. In the long term, that relaxation made reunification a possibility. Brandt resigned

in 1974 after it was discovered that one of his aides was an East German spy. Helmut

Schmidt, also a Social Democrat, succeeded him. Schmidt continued to practice moderate

domestic policies and Ostopolitik, as did the Christian Democrats when they returned to

power under Helmut Kohl in 1982.(1) Kohl remained chancellor following the 1983 and

1987 elections.

East Germany

The German Democratic Republic experienced a more difficult history. After

World War II the Soviet Union appointed German communists to office and set up a

system similar to that of the Soviet Union. People suspected of opposing communism

were thrown into prison camps. Many East Germans attempting to flee into West

Germany were killed. The Socialist Union Party was formed , led by Walter Ulbricht.

East German economy recovered after 1945, but the standard of living was much lower

than that of West Germany. Although living and working conditions slowly improved

under the unpopular dictator, almost three million dissatisfied citizens escaped to West

Germany resulting in the construction of the Berlin Wall. Ulbricht resigned in 1971, he

was succeeded by Erich Honecker. Honecker helped to improve relations with many

non-communist nations but no real changes were felt until 1989, when protests for

freedom by East Germans became rampant. The pressure forced Honecker to resign. His

successor was Egon Krenz. The government finally decided to open its borders and allow

citizens to travel freely. The end of these restrictions led to the fall of the Berlin Wall.(2)

Reunification

The opening of the borders in 1989 permitted thousands of East Germans to move to

West Germany where they were immediately granted citizenship. This allowed the

population to consider the possibility of reunification.

In order for reunification to become a reality, a number of factors needed to be

considered. The integration of East Germany into the much larger economic system of

West Germany and the establishment of a stable currency was a necessity.

The ability of the new Germany to sustain the huge national debt was a concern since East

Germany was falling apart economically. Also, some thought reunification would be

difficult because the two states belonged to opposing military alliances, creating the fear

that a united Germany would strive once again to become a threat to world peace.

Lastly, the four power rights of the allies had to be dealt with.

With astounding speed that surprised the world, the two states resolved their

economic and social differences and a treaty for unification , which included a promise

from Germany to renounce nuclear chemical and biological weapons was signed in

August, 1990. Germany had its first national elections in December, 1990.(3)

Events Leading up to German Reunification

1989

11 September Hungary allows thousands of East Germans to pass through its

territory to take refuge in the Federal Republic via Austria. 4%

of the GDR population emigrates in a matter of months.

18 October Erich Honecker is ousted, and replaced by Egon Krenz.

3 November Krenz purges five members of his cabinet of eighteen, and appeals

to East Germans not to flee the country. Czechoslovakia opens its

border, allowing East Germans to emigrate to the West.

4 November Nearly one million people join a demonstration in East Berlin

demanding free elections and free travel.

7 November The GDR government resigns.

9 November The Berlin Wall is opened.

17 November The reformist Hans Modrow takes over as head of government.

1 December GDR parliament ends the Communists monopoly of power.

7 December The GDR government begins round-table discussions with

opposition groups.

1990

1 February Modrow proposes a united, non-aligned Germany for the first time.

10 February Gorbachev says the Germans can determine their own future. Kohl

greets it as a green light for unification.

20 February Talks begin on economic and monetary union.

18 March First free general election in the GDR.

18 May A treaty is signed in Bonn to establish economic, monetary and

social union between the Federal Republic and the GDR on 1 July.

27 June West and East Germany decide to lift all border controls between

them from 1 July.

3 October Unification of Germany(4)

1990

For Europe, the reunification signaled the end of the Cold War. Voters in both

Germanys elected a single national parliament. Chancellor, Helmut Kohl and his comrades

won with a strong majority. East Germans were anxious to gain economic and political aid

from West Germany. Kohl sought to strengthen ties to the European community. Of

course, the greatest opposition came from the Soviet Union, but Gorbachev finally

approved NATO membership of a unified Germany. The economic union resulted in an

exchange of East German marks at a 1 to 1 rate for West German Deutshe marks. Wages

and pensions were also converted. Although there was some argument, Helmut Kohl

claimed that these measures were necessary in order to slow the emigration of East

Germans to West Germany. Unemployment soared as inefficient businesses shut down.

Industry was in far worse shape than had been perceived.(5)

1991

The relief that came with unification gave way to reality as the chore of raising the

standard of living of 17 million East Germans became evident. The German government

said it would spend the equivalent of 50 billion dollars U.S. on welfare, unemployment and

reconstruction. These costs had a negative effect on the economy as inflation and interest

rates began to rise. As a result, Chancellor Helmut Kohls popularity sank.

Another problem confronting the newly united Germany was the educational

system. Under the term of their treaty, East Germany agreed to adapt its system to

conform to that of West Germany, but most teachers and professors from the former were

not adequately qualified. Most were put on probation or retired, creating a shortage of

educators.(6)

1992

The high cost of reunification and the pressure on Germany to redefine its role on

the world scene were key issues. Government budget productions had doubled , causing

inflation to reach a peak, unemployment increased, and interest rates rose.

Violence flared up against refugees. Approximately 400 000 came to Germany

from the former republics of Yugoslavia, the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.

Thousands took part in the demonstrations condemning the violence.

Erich Honecker faced charges of manslaughter. He was accused of ordering

anyone trying to flee from East Berlin to West Berlin during the sixties to be shot. (7)

1993

The year was costly as the 17 million residents on welfare forced Germany to

keep interest rates high, slowing economic growth. GDP declined by 2%.

Germany s central bank tried to lower rates but faced opposition from other

Western European countries. Unemployment reached 50% in some areas since

most easterners had not developed the entrepreneurial drive that the West

expected. West Germans were increasingly resentful toward what they saw as an

inefficient East.

The political picture was unsettled as Germany s two main parties changed their

leaders and other prominent figures, including Helmut Kohl, made changes within

the Christian Democrat Party that came under fire.(8)

1994

Chancellor Helmut Kohl began a fourth term. The German economy began to

recover. Estimates said that the growth in East Germany would exceed that of West

Germany by a rate of nearly 10%. Violence continued, but less frequent than in 1993

Political restrictions against immigrants were approved. A court ruled that German

troops could take part in military action outside Germany, provided the action was

approved by NATO. Erich Honecker died of liver cancer in Chile where he had been

living.(9)

1995

The growing strength of the German mark resulted in loss of work for Germans

since huge corporations opted to take production to the United States. Many unions

agreed to less working hours and lower wages in return for job security. A constitutional

court decision not to prosecute former East German Intelligence officials angered both

West and East Germans. 1500 German troops were sent to Bosnia Herzegovina to aid

U.N. peacekeepers . A compromise was reached concerning strict West German abortion

laws and East Germany s permissive laws.(10)

1996

A brief recession sent unemployment to an all time high. Helmut Kohl became the

country s longest serving leader of the twentieth century. He urged cutbacks in

government spending and welfare payments citing that Germany had been living beyond

its means. Incentives for investment were implemented . Also Germany began forcing

an estimated 350 000 refugees to leave the country, if they refused to go voluntarily.(11)

1997

In the seven years since the wall crumbled, the two sections of Germany, rather

than growing together have pulled apart. Despite nearly $660 billion in West to

East transfers, subsidies, bank guarantees, and investments in public works, the

blooming landscapes predicted by Helmut Kohl in 1990 have yet to blossom and

East Germans who yearned for reunification are learning about the curse of a

wish come true. Reunification promised to quickly alleviate 40 years of East

German socialism by means of tax money. Government leaders all agreed that East

Germany could be raised to the West German standard of living within four years,

yet much of the GDR remains in the same condition that Hitler left it in. The

people of FRG worked hard for years to rebuild their economy, and are increasingly

resentful since most of the people of the former GDR still cling to the dream that poverty

can be overcome by the state. The German government has sent billions of Deutschmarks

to the former GDR leaving many Westerners to look back on the days of their pleasant

existance west of the iron curtain.

The high rate of unemployment that accompanied transformation; as high as 40%

in some regions has not dropped. The construction industry which was the

backbone of growth for the first five years is sagging. Hundreds of East German

firms are surviving only because of subsidies . The Eastern economy has lost its

drive and estimates say it will take 20 years to catch up, and at least a generation to get

over the ill feelings between the two Germanys.(12)