German reunification: Quick Facts

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Facts

Date	1990
Participants	East Germany • West Germany

Photos and Videos

Large crowd celebrates on and around the Berlin Wall in front of the Brandenburg Gate

Mikhail Gorbachev

A set of four historical maps showing changes in Germany's territory and internal status from 1914 to 1990. Each map highlights Germany in yellow, illustrating its larger borders in 1914, reduced and redefined borders between 1920 and 1938, division into East and West Germany from 1945 to 1990, and reunified Germany in 1990, with surrounding European countries labeled for context.

East German Prime Minister Lothar de Maiziere signs the German reunification treaty at a table with U.S., British, Soviet, French, and West German officials seated beside him, while Mikhail Gorbachev and others look on in the background. National flags are displayed behind the group.

Mass exodus from East Germany in 1989

The unexpected fall of the Berlin Wall explained

The path to German reunification

Introduction of the deutsche mark in East Germany

The Political Journey of German Chancellor Helmut Kohl

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Topics

Germany Schengen Agreement Munich Agreement Maastricht Treaty Camp David Accords Oslo Accords Dayton Accords Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species Concert of Europe Entente Cordiale Pact of Locarno

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Key People

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Lothar de Mazière

German politician