The Final Volkskammer: An Election Seals the Fate of East Germany

In the wake of the peaceful revolution, East Germans sent a decisive message 35 years ago: they sought swift reunification with West Germany. Following the opening of borders on November 9, 1989, Chancellor Helmut Kohl outlined a vague ten-point plan, hinting at a potential 'contractual community' with a reformed East German state. However, by March 18, 1990, it became apparent that the German Democratic Republic (GDR) was on a fast track to join the Federal Republic of Germany.

During the first and last free Volkskammer election on that date, a significant majority of voters in East Germany supported parties advocating for rapid unification under Article 23 of the Basic Law. The turnout was an impressive 93.4 percent, reflecting a clear desire for change. Yet, this election also sowed the seeds of misunderstanding and ongoing tensions between East and West, raising questions about whether West Germany had taken over the East dismissively and whether the pace of change was too rapid.

Former President of the Volkskammer, Sabine Bergmann-Pohl, emphasized the public's aspiration for freedom and democracy, alongside a yearning for increased prosperity. While she acknowledged that freedom and democracy were largely achieved, she pointed out that economic stability took longer to realize. She reflected on the dire economic situation in the GDR, asserting that the country was essentially bankrupt and needed West German support for recovery.

Amidst this backdrop, discussions arose regarding the pathway to reunification. Bergmann-Pohl argued that there were limited options available at the time, as the opportunity for reunification was fleeting. The prospect of developing a new, unified constitution under Article 146 of the Basic Law was deemed impractical due to time constraints.

Many citizens had hoped for a different outcome during the peaceful revolution, and some, like Gregor Gysi, who was elected to the Volkskammer for the PDS, believed that a process under Article 146 would have been more equitable. However, he too recognized the improbability of that happening. The historian Ilko-Sascha Kowalczuk, in his book "Die Übernahme," noted that historical narratives often overlook potential alternatives. He expressed doubts about whether different approaches would have been more successful, as the same individuals would have been implicated in the process.

Kowalczuk pointed out that the election results from March 18, 1990, indicated a significant willingness among East Germans to exchange their previous regime for new promises, rather than shaping their own future. He remarked that the populace was eager for immediate change, having grown impatient with waiting for a brighter tomorrow.

As 1990 progressed, an economic and social crisis began to unfold in East Germany, characterized by plant closures, rising unemployment, and continued migration to the West. The introduction of the Deutsche Mark on July 1 aimed to stabilize the situation, coinciding with Chancellor Kohl's televised promise of "flourishing landscapes." However, as the anticipated prosperity failed to materialize, many East Germans felt deceived by the transition, perceiving that West Germany simply imposed its systems onto the East.

In contrast, West Germans contended that East Germans had made the choice to reunify and thus bore responsibility for the outcome. Sociologist Steffen Mau argued that the weakened economic and political state of late GDR allowed its representatives minimal influence in the reunification dialogue. He suggested that the initial push for democratization led to a situation where East Germans willingly chose reunification, effectively relinquishing their agency.

Markus Meckel, a former SPD politician and last GDR Foreign Minister, referred to the feelings of devaluation experienced by East Germans, who were often portrayed as mere objects in the post-revolution narrative. Despite this, he maintained that the reunification was a negotiated process, asserting that East Germans did have a role in shaping their future.

The last Volkskammer operated under a sense of urgency, approving the GDR's accession to the Federal Republic on August 23, 1990, after intense discussions. The unification treaty was signed on August 31, and both the Volkskammer and Bundestag ratified it by September 20. Ultimately, on October 3, 1990, the GDR ceased to exist, along with the parliament that had been elected just months prior.