German reunification – a short history | DW Documentary

The fall of the Berlin Wall changed the course of history overnight. But German Reunification was never a guarantee. The situation could have spiraled out of control at any moment. Find out more in 2 + 4 + X: A SHORT HISTORY OF GERMAN REUNIFICATION.

West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl took advantage of the chaos during this turbulent time. His 10-point plan paved the way for the reunification of a divided Germany - but this was done behind the backs of the Allied Forces. Those who witnessed the events tell the story of the “2+4” negotiations and rocky road the world took to reunite the GDR with the West.

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[werdw]

I remember watching this with my father and crying in joy with him when the wall came down it is still one of the most important moments in my life.

[danielpenkoff]

So, on Nov 9, 1989, several things happened to me on that day. I was stationed in Germany with the US Army (near Hanau). I turned 30 on that day, and later that afternoon, I found out that my unit would be deploying to Southern Iraq for Desert Shield/Storm. Fast forward to the present, it is early morning here in Michigan (3-22-20). COVID-19 is a global pandemic with many ill, or have died. At 60, I have witnessed so much in my life. Indeed, an emotional rollercoaster. I pray that all of you are well. Please be safe. Thank you, DW Documentary, for this piece of German history. Peace.

[timm]

I was an American student living in Munich in 1989-1990. I remember watching the wall come down, and I wept tears of joy. I had visited East Berlin in September 1986 and had a just a small sense of what life must have been like there. When the border was open, the possibilities were endless! What a time to be alive, what a time to be living in Germany!

[jamesr]

I was a 17 yr. old German American who was stopped at the border to East Germany in 1983 and ordered to hand over my camera, which was taken by an official, who opened the back and pulled out the film exposing it to the light for kicks. In Nov. 1989, when I heard that the border was opened, I flew to Germany, drove to Berlin and chiseled my own piece of the Wall, which I still have to this day. It was a beautiful day!

[jalijali]

The wall fell 10, 316 days ago. The wall stood for 10, 316 days

[dansome]

I pray that one day unification of Korea would happen it is possible just as Germany got united

[keyboarddancers]

I like DW docs coz they usually always have an overdub translation so I can be busy doing other things whilst I'm listening.

[tibornagy]

No mention of Hungary, but it had big role in starting the process by opening its border for east germans to be able to go to Austria.

[shep]

I was in Berlin on December 22nd. The things I saw... The things I heard... I don't have the words to describe what it felt like to a ten year old boy who was told by a passing German who was dishing out glass pitchers of beer. "Here you go son. Have a beer and remember this day..."

Thirty years later. Here I am and here. I remember...

[ferdinandsiegel]

I left West Berlin Oct 16, 1979. The person who was taking me to Tegel Airport asked me " After 3 years what do you think?" I told him " I give the wall 10 years and it will be gone."

[elvenkind]

The fall of the wall was a moving moment here in Norway as well. Europe started growing stronger from that day. I pray that this development continue and that all that have a common Germanic ancestry and shared language, one day can feel as one people.

[rrfirefly]

It is clear that Helmut Kohl was the man of the hour. Without his vision and equanimity, reunification would have been delayed and compromised. I actually met Kohl one afternoon in 1990 or 1991, when he visited San Francisco. A luxury bus with German flags came down Columbus Avenue and it stopped close by. Kohl got out, every one of us went wild applauding him. He came to us and shook everyone's hand. He looked as delighted as we were. His hands were enormous (I thought of those insulated barbecue mitts) -- no real surprise because he was a giant (6 feet 4 inches tall).

[kathycaldwell]

What a wonderfully accomplished documentary. Though I think I have a working knowledge of history I learned more detail of the process involved with the unification of the German State.

[DondieGarcia]

One of the most inspiring moments in history. The lessons of which we must never ever forget.

[markfeldhaus]

I was lucky enough to experience both sides of the wall as a Canadian that year. Mother was East and Father was West. Divorced parents but family kept in touch. What a different contrast at that time. East and West. I was 15 and still am shocked at the differences to this day, remembering .

[nefwaenre]

A wonderful, wonderful tribute to the History of Berlin Wall. i'm not German but this definitely brought tears to eyes. Thank you.

[TravnickaRobija]

Some of the best documentaries on this channel.

[HakunaMatata]

Long live Germany Hard working people and really smart.Thankyou for helping my country 🇩🇪🇽🇰 big love

[Oct]

In the mid 80's 85 to 86 to be factual I was in high school and made friends with a foreign exchange student from Hamburg in our photography class. I told him near the end of the school year that Germany would most likely reunite before 2000 he laugh and said not in a million years. Too bad we lost contact sure wish I could've seen the look on his face when this did happen.

[quasarone]

Helmut Kohl must have been thinking "I leave this country for one goddamn minute and suddenly the fucking wall comes down"