European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 03, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse East bloc in revolt ass inc Oate their harrowing Border crossing behind them the Stelzer family Horst and Kathrin and sons Ilko front left and Candy Are now saving for a trip to Disney is vice it annoy for the Melzer family of East Germany the West is a Good place to visit but not to live. Mathias with his wife Kristin and son Jakob says the West can be too those of us in the East with nothing. They old us i was their Rosa said he fell angry betrayed. We have been deceived since we were he said that he had been placed in an orphanage near Berlin because his Mother could t support him. He was too Young to remember. It had been just after the War when there was still one Germany. Rosa s Mother returned to her Home in present Day West Germany and during the next few years cold War politics Drew an Iron curtain Between them. V Cople at the orphanage told Rosa his Mother was dead. Years later he Learned through relatives that so was living in the West. He said he had to steal government files to find out where. He did t Sec her until 1963, when Ecsi germans were allowed to visit relatives in the East. He was 1 7. As he sat in the refugee Center Rosa said he would take his family to West Berlin where he hoped his son could have a life without the Border opened a month later. Hasi German officials said it was because too Many families like the St Cizars and Rosas leaving. January 1990 so Mathias Mel or from a Village on he East Herman Side of the Harz mountains brought his family to Nurnberg. But Only for a few Days. He was among the 8 million people half the population of East Germany to visit the West. This included even one in Mel or s Village. They All he said. Melzer 2s, is the Deacon of a Small protestant congregation in the mar. He and his wife Kristin said they enjoyed what they saw in the West but had no intention of staying. They have a Good life in the East they said where they arc Well cared the couple has iwo children a House with a Garden and a car a trabant. Now they can travel freely and they say they re Happy. The West is sometimes too free Mel or said. Freedom can be criticized. Both sides have made he does t envision a unified Germany. He wants East Germany to evolve rather than dissolve. Half capitalist and half socialist would be Good what is Best from but he thought events were moving too quickly in these months of peace and revolution. Slower is better he said. Freedom will a stars and stripes special report 1989 chronology of a revolution continued from Page 7 oct. 28-29, Czechoslovakia police in Prague arrest More than 350 of the 10,000-plus demonstrators commemorating the 71st anniversary of czechoslovak Independence from the former Austro hungarian Empire. Oct. 30, East Germany hundreds of thousands March to demand change but Krenz vows to preserve communist party Power. Nov. 3-7, East Germany 30,000 East germans enter West Germany through Czechoslovakia after East Germany and Czechoslovakia waive Border requirements nov. 4, East Germany one million gather in Berlin s Alexandor Platz to press for More Reform. Nov. 6, East Germany hundreds of thousands demonstrate in Leipzig Halle and other cities. Nov. 7, East Germany Council of ministers resigns. Nov. 8, Bulgaria the orthodox priests Union banned in 1957, is resurrected. In the second largest City of Plovdiv a group of former political prisoners founds the club of people sentenced under socialism. Nov. 8, East Germany 21 member politburo resigns and is replaced by a new 11 member group. Most hard liners associated with Honecker Are ousted. Nov. 8, East Germany 50.000 East germans Are in Czechoslovakia wailing to move to West Germany. Nov. 9, Bulgaria communist party Leader Todor Zsivkov Steps Down after 34 years in Power. He is replaced by Peter Mladenov 53, foreign minister since 1971. Nov. 9, East Germany government announces it will open the Border and allow citizens to travel freely including through the Berlin Wall. Nov. 10-12, East Germany sections of the Berlin Wall and the Barrier Between East and West Germany Are removed. More than 3 million visit West Germany and West Berlin 60,000 opt to remain. Nov. 13, East Germany 200,000 demonstrate in Leipzig Call for free elections. Nov. 13, East Germany Hans Modrow the anti establishment communist party chief of Dresden is elected Premier by parliament in an unprecedented secret ballot. The new Premier endorses opposition Calls for free elections. Nov. 15, East Germany government reports More than 7.7 million visas issued in six Days. Nov. 16, Hungary government becomes the first Eastern european country to apply for membership in the 23-nation Council of Europe. Nov. 16, Bulgaria in a Victory for reformers the communist party politburo replaces three old guard members with four liberals. Nov. 17, East Germany new government confirmed. Almost half the Cabinet posts go to minority parties. Nov. 17-19, East Germany More than 3 million East germans again visit West Germany Over the weekend. Nov. 17-21, Czechoslovakia growing numbers of demonstrators March through Prague calling Lor the resignation of the government. Brutal police beatings spark the spread of demonstrations throughout the country. Nov. In Bulgaria wore than 50.000 demonstrate in Sofia calling for democracy free elections and punishment of Zsivkov. Nov. 19, East Germany 50,000 demonstrators in Dresden and tens of thousands in other cities demand that the politicians responsible for the country s problems be punished. Nov. 20, East Germany 200,000 demonstrators in Leipzig Call for a unified Germany. Continued on Page 13 Page 11
