The end of East Germany was crazy precisely because it was so peaceful. A number of popular outcries in the late 80s instigated civil reforms. And then one of the defense ministers was asked on national TV in '89 “hey, does this mean we don’t need the Berlin Wall anymore”. He shrugged and confessed it was no longer needed. And the military took that as a signal to step aside and let the wall get torn down.
In less than six months, the country was holding free elections. And by the following year, they’d reunified.
No shots fired. A purely popular and peaceful revolution that happened practically overnight, by historical standards.
SpaceCadet@feddit.nl 1 week ago
Excuse me, I have a question. Who was the leader of the USSR when this happened?
UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 1 week ago
Gorbachev.
However, its the GDR Communist Chairman Erich Honecker that ultimately changed policy that resulted in reunification.
SpaceCadet@feddit.nl 1 week ago
Ah Schrödinger’s Gorbachev, both a great respector of the will of the people, as well a traitor who went against the will of the people.
Then why did you comment on a post that was about the USSR?
UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 1 week ago
What? Do you believe everyone in a country has identical political views?
That’s a very naive understanding of popular politics.
The GDR was a member of the USSR.