Pearson Edexcel · A-Level · History

    Course version: 9HI0 · Version from Sept 2015

    The end of the GDR, 1989-90: the collapse of the SED government 1989 and…

    Full specification wording

    Growing crises and the collapse of communist rule in the GDR: The end of the GDR, 1989-90: the collapse of the SED government 1989 and the elections of March 1990; the reunification of East and West Germany, March–October 1990; the attitudes of Kohl, Britain, the USA and the USSR; the accession of the eastern territories to West Germany.

    After the Berlin Wall opened, the SED government collapsed in late 1989.

    Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .

    • Point 4 of 4
    • 4 key terms

    Study notes

    From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    The idea

    After the Berlin Wall opened, the SED government collapsed in late 1989. The March 1990 elections in the GDR produced a victory for parties favouring rapid unification with West Germany. Reunification proceeded between March and October 1990. Key external actors shaped the process: Kohl, the West German Chancellor, pushed for swift unification; Britain, under Thatcher, was cautious about a united Germany; the USA, under Bush, supported unification within NATO; and the USSR, under Gorbachev, eventually accepted a united Germany in NATO. The eastern territories acceded to West Germany under Article 23 of the Basic Law on 3 October 1990, ending the GDR.

    What earns the marks

    • Explains the collapse of the SED government in 1989 and the transition to free elections in March 1990.
    • Analyses the outcome and significance of the March 1990 elections in the GDR.
    • Explains the process of reunification between March and October 1990, including the role of the Two Plus Four negotiations.
    • Compares the attitudes of Kohl, Britain, the USA and the USSR towards German reunification.
    • Explains the accession of the eastern territories to West Germany under Article 23 and the establishment of a single German state on 3 October 1990.

    Common mistakes and how to put them right

    • Assuming all Allied powers opposed reunification.

      Put it right by distinguishing Britain’s caution from US support and eventual Soviet acceptance.

    • Confusing the dates of the March 1990 elections with the date of reunification.

      Put it right by keeping the election in March and accession on 3 October 1990.

    • Overlooking the Two Plus Four process.

      Put it right by including it as the diplomatic framework for reunification.

    Exam tips

    • Create a timeline from November 1989 to October 1990 to show the sequence of collapse, election and accession.
    • Use the attitudes of Kohl, Britain, the USA and the USSR to analyse international constraints and opportunities.
    • Link the method of accession (Article 23) to the speed and nature of reunification.

    Try the lesson

    The start of the Growing crises and the collapse of communist rule in the GDR: The end of the GDR, 1989-90: the collapse of the SED government 1989 and the elections of March 1990; the reunification of East and West Germany, March–October 1990; the attitudes of Kohl, Britain, the USA and the USSR; the accession of the eastern territories to West Germany. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    Have a go first

    In the free Volkskammer elections of March 1990, which grouping won the largest share of the vote and led the new GDR government?

    Listen

    After the Berlin Wall opened, the SED government collapsed in late 1989. The March 1990 elections in the GDR produced a victory for parties favouring rapid unification with West Germany. Reunification proceeded between March and October 1990. Key external actors shaped the process: Kohl, the West German Chancellor, pushed for swift unification; Britain, under Thatcher, was cautious about a united Germany; the USA, under Bush, supported unification within NATO; and the USSR, under Gorbachev, eventually accepted a united Germany in NATO. The eastern territories acceded to West Germany under Article 23 of the Basic Law on 3 October 1990, ending the GDR. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explains the collapse of the SED government in 1989 and the transition to free elections in March 1990. Analyses the outcome and significance of the March 1990 elections in the GDR. Explains the process of reunification between March and October 1990, including the role of the Two Plus Four negotiations. Compares the attitudes of Kohl, Britain, the USA and the USSR towards German reunification. A common slip: Assuming all Allied powers opposed reunification. Instead, distinguishing Britain’s caution from US support and eventual Soviet acceptance. Exam tip: Create a timeline from November 1989 to October 1990 to show the sequence of collapse, election and accession.

    See it

    A top-down flowchart with nine nodes. It begins with the opening of the Berlin Wall, which leads to the collapse of the SED government in late 1989. That leads to the GDR elections of March 1990, which produced a victory for parties favouring rapid unification. This leads to the reunification process between March and October 1990, which has two parallel strands: the Two Plus Four negotiations, and the attitudes of Kohl, Britain, the USA and the USSR. Both strands lead to the eastern territories acceding to West Germany under Article 23, which leads to a single German state on 3 October 1990.
    The sequence from the opening of the Berlin Wall through the collapse of the SED government, the March 1990 elections and the reunification process to accession under Article 23 on 3 October 1990.

    Key words

    Say what each word means before you turn the card.

    SED government

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    March 1990 elections

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Two Plus Four negotiations

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Article 23

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    See every definition
    SED government
    The government that collapsed in late 1989 after the Berlin Wall opened.
    March 1990 elections
    Elections in the GDR that produced a victory for parties favouring rapid unification with West Germany.
    Two Plus Four negotiations
    The diplomatic framework for reunification, which the note says should be included in answers.
    Article 23
    The part of the Basic Law under which the eastern territories acceded to West Germany on 3 October 1990.

    Label the diagram

    Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.

    The diagram again, with 3 boxes numbered instead of named. A top-down flowchart with nine nodes. It begins with the opening of the Berlin Wall, which leads to the collapse of the SED government in late 1989. That leads to the GDR elections of March 1990, which produced a victory for parties favouring rapid unification. This leads to the reunification process between March and October 1990, which has two parallel strands: the Two Plus Four negotiations, and the attitudes of Kohl, Britain, the USA and the USSR. Both strands lead to the eastern territories acceding to West Germany under Article 23, which leads to a single German state on 3 October 1990.

    • 1Box 1

    • 2Box 2

    • 3Box 3

    0 of 3 labelled

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