Popular Desire for Reunification: Throughout the 1980s, people in both East and West Germany felt a growing desire for reunification. This sentiment intensified after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
Peaceful Revolution in East Germany: Protests and social movements emerged in East Germany, known as the Peaceful Revolution, demanding democratic reforms and greater freedoms. Growing public discontent with the communist regime played a significant role in prompting change.
International Environment: The end of the Cold War, symbolized by the fall of the Berlin Wall, led to significant geopolitical changes in Europe. The Soviet Union no longer supported its satellite state in East Germany, allowing international pressure for reunification to rise.
Economic Challenges: West Germany's strong economy made unification an attractive prospect for East Germans, who desired access to improved living standards and economic opportunities.
Political Reforms: East Germany held its first free elections in 1990, resulting in a victory for the conservative alliance known as the Alliance for Germany. The new government pursued reunification as a major objective.
Negotiations and Treaties: Representatives from East and West Germany, as well as the four occupying Allied powers (France, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union), engaged in lengthy negotiations over the conditions and processes of unification. They signed the Two Plus Four Treaty, confirming the recognition of Germany's borders and paving the way for sovereignty.
Ultimately, the combination of internal political changes, public demand for unity, favorable international circumstances, and the economic disparity between East and West Germany facilitated the reunification of Germany into a single democratic nation.