On 8 November 1972, Michael Kohl, a Junior Minister in the GDR, and Egon Bahr, West German Minister without portfolio under Chancellor Willy Brandt, initial the Basic Treaty, which is to be signed in East Berlin on 21 December of the same year.

On 21 December 1972, in East Berlin, Egon Bahr, Secretary of State for the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), and Michael Kohl, Secretary of State for the German Democratic Republic (GDR), sign the Basic Treaty with a view to restoring diplomatic relations between the two neighbouring States on the basis of international law.

On 21 December 1972, Egon Bahr, adviser to Chancellor Willy Brandt, expresses satisfaction at the signature, on that day in East Berlin, of the Fundamental Treaty between the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the German Democratic Republic (GDR).

On 21 December 1972, East German Secretary of State, Michael Kohl, welcomes the signature, on that day in East Berlin, of the bilateral 'Fundamental' Treaty as a significant step in the strengthening of relations between the German Democratic Republic (GDR) and the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG).

The Basic Treaty, signed in East Berlin on 21 December 1972 by the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the German Democratic Republic (GDR), is of great significance in the history of relations between the two neighbouring countries and in the development of the Ostpolitik, their policy towards Eastern Europe.

En décembre 1972, le mensuel français Le Monde diplomatique analyse les effets de l'Ostpolitik du chancelier allemand Willy Brandt sur les relations entre les deux Allemagne.

In his memoirs, the former German Chancellor, Willy Brandt, describes the relations between the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the German Democratic Republic (GDR) in the months preceding the signature of the bilateral basic treaty on 21 December 1972.

On 15 February 1973, the German Chancellor, Willy Brandt, announces to the Bundestag the significance of the Basic Treaty signed on 21 December 1972 between the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the German Democratic Republic (GDR).

On 15 February 1973, Willy Brandt, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), gives an address to the Bundestag in which he outlines the historic impact of the Basic Treaty between the FRG and the German Democratic Republic (GDR) signed on 21 December 1972.