East Germany 1949-90
Category: Other
Updated: 17 Dec 2019
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Created byDominic Lai
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Events
May 8, 1945 - Nazi Germany capitulates, country divided into occupation zones.October 7, 1949 - German Democratic Republic founded.June 17, 1953 - Soviet troops quell workers' uprising.January 18, 1956 - East German army established, country joins Warsaw Pact soon after.August 13, 1961 - Berlin Wall goes up.March 19, 1970 - East and West German leaders meet for the first time in Erfurt, East Germany.May 3, 1971 - Erich Honecker replaces Walter Ulbricht as party chief.December 21, 1972 - Basic Treaty signed between East and West Germany, paving the way for diplomatic recognition.November 16, 1976 - Poet and singer Wolf Biermann stripped of citizenship, prompting many artists to emigrate in disgust.September 7, 1987 - Honecker visits West Germany.January 17, 1988 - Demonstration at official march sparks major crackdown on dissent.May 7, 1989 - Communists and allies score nearly 99 percent in local elections later shown to have been rigged.September 10, 1989 - Hungary opens its border to Austria, allowing thousands of East Germans to reach West.October 18, 1989 - After unrest across the country, including huge demonstrations in the city of Leipzig, and continued exodus, Honecker quits. Egon Krenz replaces him.November 9, 1989 - Berlin Wall opened.March 18, 1990 - East Germany's first free elections. Voters opt for centre right pro-unity government.July 1, 1990 - East and West Germany merge economies, East adopts deutsche mark as currency.September 12, 1990 - World War Two allies and two German states sign treaty restoring sovereignty to future united Germany.October 3, 1990 - East Germany unites with West Germany.Periods
Soviet Controlled East GermanyJuly/August 1989 - Would-be emigrants pack West German embassies across East Europe to seek exit papers.
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