European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 1, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                . Jew ii  n 1.1 n j Wiki y  a Jap a a a a / 5v it a mindex2_ in the last year the germans have rapidly brought their separate countries to the Brink of Unity. 3_ unlike past German mergers this year s reunification is taking place under peaceful circumstances. 4_ West Germany a ambassador to nato Hans Friedrich von Ploetz reassures people worried about a powerful Germany. 5_ the new Germany has a capital a Berlin. But the country a seat of government remains far from settled. V 6_ East germans eat  but West germans Munch on  the language and people Are different.8_ one word repeatedly crops up in discussions about the Cost of reunification to West Germany a  9_ environmental and psychological hurdles continue to stand in the Way of a second German economic miracle.1 0_ Germany and Berlin Are regaining rights that were denied them during the Chilly Era of the cold War.1 1_ Germany will be one nation with two sets of Laws a one for former East germans and one for former West germans.1 2_ West German soldiers head East to give members of the East German armed forces their new marching orders. Coming together staff editor. Bill Pratt assistant editor. George Manes design. Peter Jaeger writers. Joseph Owen David Tarrant Mary Neth de Reavis Helge Thiele and Randy Mcclain photographers. Ken George and Effie Bathen graphics. Susan Harris and Wes Booher production. Brian Smith a year to Unity w i it 1 1 i i i is in the last year germans have seen a dream become reality a the two countries that arose after world War ii Are reuniting. The following chronology tracks the major events in this year of the germans. October 1989 3 a nearly 5,000 East germans hoping to flee to the West take Refuge in the West German embassy in Prague Czechoslovakia. Just a week before Hans Dietrich Genscher West Germany a foreign minister arranged the release of 4,000 who had taken Refuge there. 7 a during East Germany a 40-year anniversary Celebration in East Berlin soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev advises the country a politicians to set a course of Reform. While the anniversary Celebration goes on protesters gather across the country. The crowds Are rushed by club wielding police. More than 1,000 demonstrators Are carted off. 9 a in Leipzig 70,000 take to the streets in East Germany a first mass demonstration. There Are fears of a bloody police put Down but the demonstration ends peacefully. 18 a continued mass demonstrations Force Erich Honecker to resign ending 18 years As general Secretary of the communist party and head of state. Egon Krenz the head of Security becomes the new party chief. November 3 a the a old guard is mustered out. Krenz gives notice of the resignations of five top party functionaries. 3-7 a 30,000 East germans enter West Germany through Czechoslovakia after East Germany and Czechoslovakia waive Border requirements. 4 a More than 1 million citizens March through the streets of East Berlin demonstrating for democratic Reform of the communist party. 7 a the 44-member East German Cabinet resigns. 8 a Krenz replaces the ruling politburo the country a most powerful decision making body. 9 a East Germany a heavily fortified Frontier with West Germany is opened. The Berlin Wall Falls. 13 a East Germany a parliament votes Hans Modrow of the communist party As new Premier. Modrow immediately Calls for free elections. 22 a at a Leipzig demonstration the Call for a reunited Germany is heard for the first time. The Call for reunification a we Are one people picks up in the following weeks. 28 a in Bonn Chancellor Helmut Kohl presents a 10-Pointplan aimed at a co federative Alliance with East Germany with reunification As the final goal. December 2 a an investigation by the East German parliament shows corruption at the top of the party. Honecker is put under House arrest. Six other highly placed members of the party Are jailed. 3 a Krenz the 10-Man politburo and 163-member Central committee resign. A 25-member it Anel of reformers takes Over temporary leadership in a desperate Effort to Rescue the communist party. 6 a Krenz gives up his role As president. 19 a Modrow and Kohl meet for the first time in Dresden. Their Daylong talks result in an announcement that West Germany will spend $8 billion on Aid for East Germany. 24 a a for the first time West germans and residents of West Berlin can enter East Germany without a visa. January 1 a West germans and West berliners no longer have to buy 25 East Marks every Day that they stay in the country. 30 a Modrow visits Moscow where Gorbachev appears less resistant to a reunited Germany. Honecker is released from jail because of ill health. February 1 a Modrow proposes a three step plan for German Unity. 13 a Modrow and Kohl meet in Bonn and agree to form a commission of experts who will prepare the Way for Union of East German and West German currencies. 15 a membership in the East German communist party sinks from 2.3 million to 700,000. March 18 _ the East germans vote in the country a first free election. The Christian democratic Union wins with 40.92 percent followed by the social democrats with 21.8 percent and the former communist party with 16.3 percent. April 2 a the new parliament names Lothar de Maizi amp re As its prime minister. De Maizi amp re represents a grand coalition of the cd the German social Union spa and Liberal parties. The new government backs unification and apologizes for the nazi holocaust. May 5 a the 2-plus-4 talks begin in Bonn. These talks Between the four allies and two Germany Are to resolve Boundary and external Security issues of reunification. 28 a East German defense minister Rainer Eppelmann says the Warsaw pact is on the verge of breaking up. June 15 a Eppelmann announces that sept. 1,1992, would be a realistic Date for reunification. 17 a parliament votes 267-92 to consider merging with West Germany under provisions in the West German Constitution. 21 a the East German parliament passes a Resolution honouring the country a Post world War ii Border with Poland. The lower House of the West German parliament approves the treaty and the Border provision the following Day the upper House the Day after. 22 a checkpoint Charlie is dismantled after 29 years. July 1 a the West German Mark becomes the official currency of East Germany. 3 a the East German government agrees to a West German proposal for joint elections on dec. 2. 24 a the Liberal party pulls out of the five party coalition government in a dispute Over timing of the All German elections. August 6 a East and West German spa leaders counter Kohls proposal that All German elections be moved Forward to oct. 14 by calling for unification on sept. 15 followed by december elections As planned. 19 a East German social democrats vote to leave the coalition government after de Maiz amp re dismisses four cab met ministers. 22 a the East Germany parliament approves a treaty regulating All German elections on dec. 2. It also votes 294-62 to accelerate unification to oct. 3. 31 a the reunification treaty is signed by officials of both Germany. September 12 a the two Germany the United states soviet Union great Britain and France sign the 2-plus-4 agreement in Moscow that Grants a United Germany its sovereignty. 13 a the foreign ministers of West Germany and the soviet Union sign a 20-year treaty of cooperation. October 1 a the four foreign ministers of the nations that won world War ii Are scheduled to sign an agreement in which they will not exercise their rights in Germany after oct. 3. 3 a East Germany and West Germany will reunite. Page 2 the stars and stripes special report