East Germany 1989: The Movement

The Peaceful Revolution: A Social Movement

            Looking at the movement in East Germany in 1989, we see a slow progression that builds into a fast moving protest that, ultimately, ends in success. Starting in the 80’s the oppressed people of East Germany were restless. They had spent decades behind their borders with no active connection to the outside world. The people began meeting weekly in churches, to talk about their unrest, to speak out against the government and plan for a change. In the Previous decades, violent protests and riots had been staged but they were met with force by the GDR and the people realized they had to pursue an alternative action.

            Finally, in late 1989, they began to march. A peaceful protest, no violence, no aggressive shouting, only signs and chants. It was organized chaos-with a purpose. Thousands marched together and as the word got out, thousands more joined in cities across East Germany. Every week they marched, a collective of people unified against their Government. They made their demands clear, -they wanted rights. They wanted free elections, rights to travel, and the oppressive symbol of the Wall in Berlin to be torn down.

            While the military were present as they marched, there were no offensive crimes committed, and no arrests were made. This outcome was more than the people could have hoped for. Many planned for the worst, with parents of children never both going on marches together in case the protests turned dangerous and even deadly. The people were ready to risk it all, but they planned it out. They were smart and used the GDRs own tendencies against them.

            If they didn’t break the law, or get aggressive, they couldn’t be stopped and the word would get out. Soon, all of East Germany was protesting, and an exhausted government soon gave up. In November the Berlin Wall fell, a significant moment in the Revolution’s history. It marked the start of the reunification of Germany and in less than a year, the world saw the first free elections for the East Germans and a reunification treaty signed. It was a successful revolution, one the will go down in history as peaceful and impactful. The Germans were unified and began a long journey of rebuilding that still continues today.