Reasons+for+Reunification+DH

East Germany's economy failed poorly in comparison to West Germany's. (Berlin Wall. p. 27)
 * Reason for re-unification:**
 * Was getting worse and worse everyday.

"//In response, the East German people increasingly chose to attempt to leave the country or to become outspoken in their criticism of their government//." (Berlin Wall, P. 30)
 * Civilians who wanted freedom and more right lost trust in the government (p. 30)

They slowly opened themselves (P. 30)
 * East Germany allowed West Germans to visit East Germany for Christmas

Soviet collapse and Russia encouraged other Communist countries to reform into Democracy.(The Fall of Berlin Wall. p. 33)
 * East Germany rejected at first
 * "It [Berlin Wall] will still stand in fifty or one hundred years" - Erich Honecker, East Germany's leader (//Berlin Wall//, p. 37) - Erich mean that Germany would not blend with West.

East Germans eventually protested against the government to change (P. 33)
 * Early on, Government of East Germany suppressed the protest with military action.
 * But this time, it was a huge protest that the government had to wage war against its own people

Communist Party forced Honecker out of office, but people were still angry (p. 34) ->The new official Gunter Schabowski allowed direct travel to the West ->The guards allowed people to cross the Berlin Wall. ->Thousands ventured that night, and by 3 A.M., streets of West Berlin was filled with people ->Few days later, East German guards started to break the wall.


 * Question to think about:** Would North Korea do the same as East Germany, forfeit its power/regime and ask South to reunify with them?





Source picture 1: Williams, Brian. __The Fall of the Berlin Wall: November 10, 1989 (Dates With History)__. north mankato: Smart Apple Media, 2003.

Picture 2: Levy, Debbie. __Building World Landmarks - The Berlin Wall (Building World Landmarks)__. newyork: Blackbirch Press, 2004.* picture in p. 41.

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