Timeline

1989

Fall of the Wall

The post-war bloc confrontation is coming to an end. The power of the party machinery is crumbling in more and more countries of the Communist bloc. Mass demonstrations and waves of emigration increasingly also force the GDR leadership onto the 
defensive. The Peaceful Revolution eventually causes the state leadership to amend a law on emigration. The wall in Berlin falls on 9 November 1989.

1990

German unity

Following the fall of the Wall, German reunification becomes a realistic prospect. On 5 May, talks begin in Bonn about “external aspects of the establishment 
of German unity” – in other words, sovereignty under international law. On 12 September, the foreign ministers of the two German states, the USA, the USSR, 
the UK and France sign the Two Plus Four Treaty. On 
3 October 1990, the GDR accedes to the area in which the Basic Law applies and thereby officially becomes part of the Federal Republic of Germany. The division of Germany comes to an end.

1994

Withdrawal of the Allies

The last Allied troops leave German in late summer. The East-West conflict is history.

1999

Kosovo conflict

Since 1991 the territory of the former Yugoslavia has been shaken by a series of military conflicts associated with the disintegration of the country. In spring 1999, NATO responds to human rights violations by Yugoslavian forces in Kosovo with air strikes. The new Federal Government under Chancellor Gerhard Schröder decides in favour of Bundeswehr participation in these air strikes. The first combat mission since the foundation of the Bundeswehr in 1955 is considered one of the first “humanitarian military 
engagements”.

2001

September 11 attacks

Foreign policy normality ends with the terror attacks of 11 September 2001. Federal Chancellor Schröder promises the United States Germany’s full solidarity. The Security Council of the United Nations mandates military action against Afghanistan; NATO invokes 
the mutual defence clause for the first time. The combat mission against the Taliban regime begins with Operation Enduring Freedom.

2001

ISAF Bundeswehr mandate

In winter 2001, the German Bundestag agrees on military participation in the ISAF mission to stabilise 
Afghanistan. Over the years, 135,000 German soldiers take part in this mission, which ends in December 2014. Roughly 850 German soldiers are still stationed in the Hindu Kush as trainers in 2015.

2002

Euro launch

The introduction of euro coins and banknotes in 12 EU member states on 1 January 2002 creates one of the world’s largest economic areas with a common currency. The introduction of the euro is considered an important milestone in the European project. In 2015 the euro is used as the common currency in 19 EU countries.

2004

EU eastern enlargement

In the largest expansion of the European Union to date, ten countries join the EU on 1 May 2004: Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. The division of Europe after the Second World War is finally over following the accession of Bulgaria and Romania in 2007. The EU now consists of 28 member states after the accession of Croatia in 2013.

2008

Financial crisis

The financial crisis reaches its climax with the collapse of Lehman Brothers, a major investment bank. The Federal Government protects German banks 
with 500 billion euros and actively supports international financial market regulation.

2011

Arab Spring

The people in Tunisia, Egypt and Yemen rise up against their authoritarian regimes and compel several rulers to resign. Germany supports the democratisation ­process in the Arab world with transformation partnerships.

2013

Fight against terror

The Federal Government organises aid flights for the population of Iraq as part of the fight against the Islamic State (IS) terrorist militia. It also supplies weapons and munitions to Kurdish peshmerga fighters. 
At the beginning of 2015, the Bundestag agrees to send German soldiers to northern Iraq. As part of the mandate, up to 100 members of the Bundeswehr 
can prepare Kurdish peshmerga troops for operations against IS.

2014

Ukraine crisis

From February onwards, the conflict in Ukraine steadily develops in the eastern part of the country as a 
result of a gradual escalation. Federal Chancellor Merkel and Federal Foreign Minister Steinmeier engage 
in intensive negotiations with all sides. From March 2014 onwards, OSCE observers begin monitoring the conflict and the agreed ceasefires in Ukraine. Germany will hold the chairmanship of the OSCE in 2016.

2015

E3+3 talks

Germany works for a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear conflict jointly with France and the United Kingdom and the United States, Russia and China. 
The group of countries, also known as “E3+3”, reaches agreement with Iran on the key points of extensive 
restrictions on the Iranian nuclear programme on 2 April 2015 in Lausanne.

2015

Help for refugees

Almost 51.2 million people worldwide are refugees. Over half a million people apply for asylum in European countries in 2014. Compared to the rest of Europe, Germany accepts the highest number of refugees. 
In April 2015, the EU agrees on a 10-point plan to combat the causes of flight and the traffickers.

2015

UN celebrates 70th jubilee

This year, the United Nations celebrates the 70th anniversary of its foundation. In June 1945, 50 states signed the Charter of the United Nations, a document for peace and better living conditions. The United 
Nations now has 193 members; Germany became a member in 1973.