The two Germanys moved a giant step closer to reunification Tuesday when their World War II conquerors agreed to open talks after East Germany's March 18 elections.
The United States, Soviet Union, France and Britain - along with East and West Germany - decided on a "two plus four" formula:
- In the first stage, East Germany and West Germany would meet on legal, economic and political issues.
- In the second stage, the foreign ministers of the two Germanys would meet with the foreign ministers of the United States, France, Britain and the Soviet Union "to discuss external aspects of the establishment of German unity."
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One Germany kindles fears and hopes
Feb. 15, 1990
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Sam Bloch once lived under the rule of a unified Germany. It's not something he wants to experience again.
In 1942, Bloch escaped the Todt Lida concentration camp. He lost his father in a Nazi death camp. He went underground and fought in the resistance. In 1950, he emigrated to the USA.
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U.S.: NATO 1st, then unity
May 8, 1990
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The White House said Monday it prefers to resolve the question of German inclusion in NATO before unification takes place.
That flies in the face of a proposal Sunday by Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze to delay the question until after unification.
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Germanys take first small step on road to unity
June 29, 1990
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The curtain rises Sunday on a dramatic new life for East Germany - economic unity with its western partner.
Already, East Germans are scrambling for groceries as shops empty their shelves, anticipating a flood of goods from the West. They're also lining up at banks to fill out forms needed to swap their near-worthless East German currency for mighty West German marks.
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Soviets OK Germany in NATO
July 18, 1990
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Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev removed the major hurdle to German reunification Monday by agreeing that Germany could remain in NATO.
"A united Germany will be in NATO if that is its choice," he said after two days of talks with West German leader Helmut Kohl in the Soviet Union.
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Polish border secure; Unity's last 'obstacle'
July 18, 1990
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PARIS - German unification Tuesday took another step in the march that began when the Berlin Wall fell in November: Germany guaranteed its post-war border with Poland.
The agreement is the last major hurdle in the quest for unification.
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German unity date hits snag
Aug. 22, 1990
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BERLIN - Plans to set the exact date for merging the two Germanys were dashed by political wrangling Tuesday.
East Germany's Social Democrats blocked a bid by Prime Minister Lothar de Maiziere to make Oct. 14 unification day. Unity needs only a resolution by East Germany's parliament.
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'Astonishing!' - Germanys unite; Nation toasts with tears, champagne
Oct. 3, 1990
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BERLIN - Berlin danced in the floodlit glow of world attention Tuesday, and awoke today with a new title: capital of a united Germany.
Once-divided but now-whole Berlin, and all of Germany, took time out from the serious business of unification to relax, if only for a while.
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Rebuilding Germany; East feels success, pain of capitalism
July 31, 1991
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BERLIN - In what used to be communist-controlled East Berlin, entrepreneurs such as Wolfgang Riemann and Jens Volkstedt are enthusiastically embracing capitalism.
Their four-month-old store in the Weissensee district offers equipment - Compaq personal computers, Canon copiers and fax machines - that was banned in East Germany when the communists were in charge. The store, with its fresh paint, bright lights and potted plants, stands out on a street lined with old buildings blackened by years of pollution and neglect.
