Photo Courtesy of Matthew Zens
Many questions were left to be answered after the wall came down. The feeling left in Germany after reunification was unexplainable. East Germans were in shock and often were teary eyed after realizing the comfortable conditions of the West. Cleanliness, quality, and open smiles from the Westerners left lasting images on the people of East Germany. Programs of social equality, human care, and the avoidance of materialism were evident in the ideals set out for the East.
Democratic participation spread through the unified country after Erich Honecker persuaded the government to hold free elections in May. Economic unification was the underlying theme in this first election. A reeducation program was started to inform representatives of important issues such as taxes, unemployment compensation, and the available economic choices. Kohl thought of the one-for-one promise which was an economic exchange between the East and West. Germany was motivated to stabilize their situation in order to gain a spot in the European Community. Increasing emigration to the West seemed to necessitate a political unification. The East and West were unified under the Basic Law of the West.
After the economic treaty was signed, Chancellor Kohl addressed the people's opposition to further unification-- "German unity and European unity are dependent on one another." Borders were to show mutual trust instead of division of peoples.
The first national elections confirmed the unification that had taken place. The effects of unification continued to shape Germany and the European Community. Since unification, Germany has become more active in the European Community. The German government assured their commitment to the idea of European unity. Germany feels it has now rid itself of the excesses of the Third Reich. Supporting integration over nationalism, Germans have proven loyal and supportive.
A debate on whether the capital should be in Bonn or Berlin came about after unification. Berlin received the vote in the end, but the transfer of the chancellor's office and the Bundestag to Berlin will probably take ten years. The new leadership, the struggle for a place in international contexts, and the attitude of Germans will shape the future of this new nation.
The new Germany has many expectations to address. The unification of Germany strengthened the balance of power in Europe. The unified Germany was expected to step into the European Community by providing aid to the Gulf War. Germany was given responsibility with its newly unified status. Germany provided aid to the Gulf War too. West Germany is supposed to regain the economic equilibrium of Eastern Europe and will have a great burden in the future of reestablishing the land to the east.
Various Effects On Aspects Of Culture
- Agriculture: Consumers bought domestic produce after West German food was available on July 1, 1990. Decreasing prices proved meaningless in selling the food. The USSR had to provide agricultural production. The Bonn government and European Community made arrangements to avoid the fall of East German agriculture.
- Transport: After the borders opened, Easterners bought new and used cars in large numbers. Traffic flow greatly increased leading to crowded roads and more accidents. Programs for the construction of roads greatly increased all over the unified Germany.
- Finance: Debt increased from 22.3 billion in 1989 to 32 billion by March 1990. Municipal governments required supplementary budgets to prevent them from falling apart.
- Environment: In 1991 the Federal Minister of the Environment, Klaus Tofer, aimed at improving conditions in East Germany. Clearing badly polluted places, producing more sewage plants, and reducing carbon dioxide emissions were a few of the major goals.
- Foreign Trade: Imports of food were cut by 43% while engineering and vehicles by 30%. This was the process of integrating the East and West into one German economy.
- Social Consequences: Immediate problems include the need for housing and employment.
- Conclusion: The West German economy will constantly be called upon by the east in the ensuing years. Time will tell the future of German unification.
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