In his memoirs, Helmut Kohl, former Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), considers the final attempts made by the Communists to remain in power in the German Democratic Republic (GDR).

‘West. Polish, Vietnamese, Bulgarian Turks, Volga Germans, Romanian Hungarians, Chinese, refugees from the GDR, refugees from the whole world.’ On 12 August 1989, following the gradual collapse of the communist regimes in the former Eastern bloc, Fritz Behrendt, a Dutch cartoonist originally from Berlin, illustrates the question of the arrival and integration of refugees from Central and Eastern Europe in the West. In light of the growing migrant crisis, the West appears to be increasingly like an impenetrable ship. In September 1989, nearly 6 000 East German refugees gather in front of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Prague in the hope of joining the FRG via the Hungary–Austria border.

In September 1989, in the Holy Family Church Square, the City of Budapest welcomes numerous refugees from the German Democratic Republic (GDR).

In September 1989, some 6 000 East German refugees meet in front of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Prague hoping to be able to reach the FRG via the Hungarian-Austrian border that was opened on 10 September. On 30 September 1989, the German Federal Foreign Minister, Hans-Dietrich Genscher, tells them that they are legally authorised by the GDR to emigrate to the FRG.

On 8 October 1989, the day after the 40th anniversary of the founding of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), the Politburo of the Central Committee of Germany's Socialist Unity Party (SED) reaffirms its desire to continue to steer the country along the path of Socialism and condemns the Federal Republic of Germany for interfering in the GDR's domestic affairs.

On 12 October 1989, the European Parliament adopts a resolution on the exodus of thousands of East German citizens to the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) in which it calls on the Government of the German Democratic Republic to open the way for democratic reforms.

On 18 October 1989, Erich Honecker, Secretary-General of the East German Socialist Unity Party (SED), resigns from office and asks to be replaced by Egon Krenz.

On 18 October 1989, Egon Krenz, successor to Erich Honecker as Secretary-General of the Central Committee of the Socialist Unity Party (SED) of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), outlines the main thrust of his country’s new government policy.

On 18 October 1989, Egon Krenz succeeds Erich Honecker as General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Socialist Unity Party (SED) of the German Democratic Republic (GDR).

In its issue of 23 October 1989, the German weekly magazine Der Spiegel profiles Egon Krenz, successor to Erich Honecker as General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED).

On 23 October 1989, thousands of people demonstrate in the ‘Monday demonstrations’ in Leipzig against the policy of the East German Government and call for the democratisation of the German Democratic Republic (GDR).

In October 1989, thousands of people demonstrate for freedom and democracy in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) with prayers for peace held at St. Nicholas’ Church (Nikolaikirche) in Leipzig and the ‘Monday demonstrations’ along the ‘Leipziger Ring’.

On 4 November 1989, a demonstration attended by over 500 000 people takes place in East Berlin. The demonstrators call for more reforms and greater freedom for the press. Under the pressure of the crowd assembled on the Alexanderplatz, the ruling regime accepts the debate and Günter Schabowski, a leading member of the Socialist Unity Party (SED) of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), gives an address which is booed by the crowd of demonstrators.

‘Monday demonstrations’. On 6 November 1989, thousands of people demonstrate peacefully in Leipzig against the policy of the East German Government and call for the reunification of divided Germany.

On 10 November 1989, the day after the fall of the Berlin Wall, East German leaders promise ‘free, secret’ elections for May 1990. The photo shows Egon Krenz, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Socialist Unity Party (SED) of the German Democratic Republic, giving an address.

The ‘Monday demonstrations’, held in Leipzig on 13 November 1989 to protest against the policy of the Communist East German Government.

On 16 November 1989, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe forwards to the Committee of Ministers a recommendation on the recent events in the German Democratic Republic (GDR).

‘A new sun in the GDR.’ The cartoonist Fritz Behrendt sees the fall of the Communist regime in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) in 1989 as heralding Chancellor Helmut Kohl’s policy of German reunification.

On 13 December 1989, Richard von Weizsäcker, West German Foreign Minister, discusses on East German television the question of the reunification of Germany and gives his opinion on the implementation of democratic reforms in the German Democratic Republic (GDR).

In 1989, the German cartoonist, Walter Hanel, depicts the collapse of the Communist regime in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) and emphasises the longing of the East German people for more freedom and democracy.

Horst Teltschik, Diplomatic Adviser to the German Chancellor, Helmut Kohl, gives his opinion on the collapse of the Communist regime in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) in early 1990.

On 1 February 1990, Hans Modrow, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), presents his views on how German unification might be achieved, emphasising, in particular, the role of a united Germany as a factor of stability, confidence and peace in Europe.

'In 100 years' time, the wall will still be standing.' In 1988, Erich Honecker, Secretary-General of the Unified Socialist Party of the FRG, rejects the idea of dismantling the Berlin Wall and undertakes to defend the values of the Federal Republic of Germany.

At a press conference held by the Central Committee of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (Sozialistische Einheitspartei Deutschlands — SED), Günter Schabowski, Information Secretary in the Central Committee of the SED, announces that citizens from the German Democratic Republic (GDR) will be able to make personal trips abroad without conditions, effective immediately. This unexpected statement, in which Schabowski also confirms that travel from the GDR will be possible at all checkpoints to the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and to West Berlin, leads to the fall of the Berlin Wall during the night of 9 to 10 November 1989.

On 9 November 1989, Rudolf Seiters, Head of the German Federal Chancellery, welcomes the announcement made by Günter Schabowski, Spokesman for the Government of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), of the adoption of a more relaxed law on travel which allows crossing points along the Berlin Wall to be opened.

During the night of 9 to 10 November 1989, the Berlin Wall comes down. For the first time in 28 years, all Berliners are able to move freely throughout the city.

On 9 November 1989, the Berlin Wall collapses and thousands of Berliners express their joy as they climb the Wall that once stood as a symbol of the division of Germany.

On 9 November 1989, the German Democratic Republic (GDR) opens its frontiers to West Berlin and to the remainder of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), a move which prompts large numbers of mass demonstrations in front of the Brandenburg Gate.

On 9 November 1989, the Berlin Wall falls and thousands of Berliners express their joy by climbing the Wall, the symbol of the separation of the two German States for almost 30 years.

On 10 December 1989, following the opening of the borders of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), the French daily newspaper Le Figaro welcomes the fall of the Berlin Wall and outlines the role played by Egon Krenz, General Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED), in the process that led to that country opening its borders.

On 11 November 1989, commenting on the fall of the Berlin Wall and the opening of the borders by the East German authorities, the French daily newspaper Le Monde speculates on the political future of the Communist regime in the German Democratic Republic (GDR).

On 11 November 1989, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the French daily newspaper Le Figaro leads with the symbolic end of the European Economic Community (EEC) and the birth of a new Europe.

On 1 January 1990, two months after the fall of the Berlin Wall, thousands of Berliners joyfully take part in New Year celebrations at the wall that had come to symbolise the separation of the two German states for almost 30 years.

This archive footage illustrates the history of the Berlin Wall, from its construction in August 1961 to its fall on 9 November 1989. One year later, on 3 October 1990, a jubilant Germany celebrates its reunification.

In this interview excerpt, Jacques Delors, President of the Commission of the European Communities from 1985 to 1995, discusses the statement that he made for the television channel Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF) following the fall of the Berlin Wall.