On 17 December 1969, Walter Ulbricht, Chairman of the State Council of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), sends a letter to Gustav Heinemann, President of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), proposing the establishment of equal diplomatic relations between the two neighbouring States.

On 17 December 1969, the German Democratic Republic (GDR ) and the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) finalise a draft treaty intended to smooth diplomatic relations between the two neighbouring States on the basis of international law.

‘Erfurt dialogue.’ On 21 March 1970, following the meeting held in Erfurt between Willy Brandt, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), and Willi Stoph, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), the cartoonist, Ernst Maria Lang, illustrates the difficulties involved in the dialogue between the two Germanys.

On 19 March 1970, the West German Chancellor, Willy Brandt, meets his East German counterpart, Willi Stoph, in Erfurt, East Germany, to discuss how to improve relations between Bonn and Berlin.

Signed in Berlin on 3 September 1971 by representatives from France, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United States of America and the USSR, the Quadripartite Agreement on Berlin marks a relaxation of tension in East-West relations, in particular since it guarantees civil communications between West Berlin and the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG).

On 3 September 1971, the representatives of France, the USSR, the United Kingdom and the United States sign the Four-Power Agreement on Berlin. From left to right, the French representative, Jean Sauvagnargues, the British representative, Roger Jackling, the Soviet representative, Piotr A. Abrassimov, and the US representative, Kenneth Rush.

On 3 September 1971, the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) lists the major measures included in the Four-Power Agreement on Berlin signed that day by the British, French, Soviet and US authorities.

On 3 September 1971, the German Chancellor, Willy Brandt, gives a televised address in which he outlines to his fellow countrymen the scope of the Four-Power Agreement on Berlin which guarantees in particular civilian communications between West Berlin and the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG).

On 4 September 1971, Erich Honecker, General Secretary of the German Unity Party (SED), gives an interview to the East German daily newspaper Neues Deutschland in which he comments on the main implications of the Quadripartite Agreement on Berlin, signed the previous day.

On 12 May 1980, German weekly Der Spiegel comments on the meeting between Erich Honecker, President of the GDR State Council, and Helmut Schmidt, Chancellor of the FRG, at Marshall Tito's funeral in Belgrade.

In this interview, Egon Bahr, former Junior Minister to the German Federal Chancellor Willy Brandt, explains the rapprochement that developed between the two Germanies by means of the new Ostpolitik adopted by the FRG. Firstly, he discusses the negotiations which led to the signing of the Moscow Treaty on 12 August 1970. Later, he recalls the discussions held with Michael Kohl, Junior Minister of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), which in turn led to the signing of the Basic Treaty on 21 December 1972.