Reactions to the reunification of Germany in Europe and worldwide

Soviet Union

essential state of the reunification most important decision-maker:

Michail Gorbatschow in 1990 Influence of his wife and relationship

with Helmut Kohl relevant for agreement full agreement and sovereignty for their

political system

United States of America

Agreed from the beginning ex-president Ronald Reagan‘s quote to

Gorbatschow about the Berlin-wall: „Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev,

open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!“

George Bush first west-ally supporter of the reunification; convinced with Helmut Kohl France and Great Britain

United Kingdom

Prime minister Margaret Thatcher thought the reunification would attack the „balance of powers“

Germany will become a stronger economy country

with the recognition of the „Oder-Neiße-Grenze“ and sacrifice of territorial claims, the United Kingdom agreed

France

at the beginning sceptisim, because of the shift of power in Europe

François Mauriac says: „I love Germany so much, that I‘m happy there are two of them.“

memories about the second world war are still alive

doubts on reunification and possible military conflicts

German armed forces reduced to 370.000

Agreement

Rest of the world

critisism against the state debts the BRD had to take from the GDR and bad working morale

German reunification as a „role-model“ for other countries, but not always accepted, e.g. North and South Korea

Overall happiness and cheering for Germany!