EinbürgerungstestHonki Ponki Labs

BACKGROUND FOR THE EINBÜRGERUNGSTEST

The Peaceful Revolution, the fall of the Wall and reunification in 1990

In autumn 1989, the people of the German Democratic Republic (GDR; in German: DDR) took to the streets and brought about the end of the dictatorship of the SED (Socialist Unity Party of Germany). Not quite a year later, the Federal Republic and the GDR became one state. Many questions in the naturalisation test (Einbürgerungstest) revolve around this period.

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The official question catalogue has 16 questions on this topic. In the app you practise them with instant feedback and in the exam simulation.

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The Peaceful Revolution

In autumn 1989, more and more people demonstrated in the GDR. At the Monday demonstrations they shouted “We are the people”. They demanded political freedom, a democratic say and an end to the rule of the SED, the governing party.

This upheaval is called the Wende (turning point). The Peaceful Revolution ended the SED dictatorship. The country thus changed from a dictatorship to a democracy. On 18 March 1990, the first free elections to the People’s Chamber (Volkskammer) of the GDR took place.

Many GDR citizens left the country via Hungary or sought refuge in West German embassies, for example in Prague. This pressure contributed to the upheaval.

The fall of the Wall

On the evening of 9 November 1989, the Berlin border crossings opened under pressure from the people. This date is regarded as the fall of the Berlin Wall. The Wall was built in 1961 and divided Berlin into East and West until that day.

Accession on 3 October 1990

With effect from 3 October 1990, the GDR acceded to the Federal Republic of Germany. This is called German unity or reunification. Unity came about not through occupation but through accession. The Unification Treaty made 3 October a public holiday. Since then it has been called the Day of German Unity.

Helmut Kohl was Federal Chancellor (Bundeskanzler) from 1982 to 1998. Because unity came during his term of office and he played a decisive political part in it, he is called the Chancellor of German Unity.

With unity, the Basic Law (Grundgesetz) applied throughout the country. For people in the former GDR, this meant freedom to travel, free elections and a democratic say.

The five new federal states (Länder)

With accession, five states were added to the Federal Republic. They are today’s states:

  • Brandenburg
  • Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern)
  • Saxony (Sachsen)
  • Saxony-Anhalt (Sachsen-Anhalt)
  • Thuringia (Thüringen)

Since 1990, the five states have had their own state parliaments (Landtage) and their own state governments (Landesregierungen), just like the other states. They have the same rights and duties in the federation. East Berlin also acceded; Berlin was united again as one city and one state.

Europe and today’s borders

With accession, the treaties of the European Communities of the time also applied in the new states. In 1993, the European Union emerged from these Communities.

Germany’s present borders have applied since unity in 1990. The Two Plus Four Treaty settled the external matters of unity and ended the rights of the four victorious powers over Germany as a whole. Since then, Germany’s borders have been internationally recognised.

These 16 questions are in the test

  1. 166Bei welchen Demonstrationen in Deutschland riefen die Menschen „Wir sind das Volk“?
  2. 191Wann wurde die Mauer in Berlin für alle geöffnet?
  3. 192Welches heutige deutsche Bundesland gehörte früher zum Gebiet der DDR?
  4. 194Am 3. Oktober feiert man in Deutschland den Tag der Deutschen …
  5. 195Welches heutige deutsche Bundesland gehörte früher zum Gebiet der DDR?
  6. 196Warum nennt man die Zeit im Herbst 1989 in der DDR „Die Wende“? In dieser Zeit veränderte sich die DDR politisch …
  7. 197Welches heutige deutsche Bundesland gehörte früher zum Gebiet der DDR?
  8. 198Welches heutige deutsche Bundesland gehörte früher zum Gebiet der DDR?
  9. 200Welches heutige deutsche Bundesland gehörte früher zum Gebiet der DDR?
  10. 201Welche der folgenden Auflistungen enthält nur Bundesländer, die zum Gebiet der früheren DDR gehörten?
  11. 204Wie wurden die Bundesrepublik Deutschland und die DDR zu einem Staat?
  12. 205Mit dem Beitritt der DDR zur Bundesrepublik Deutschland gehören die neuen Bundesländer nun auch …
  13. 215Wer wird als „Kanzler der Deutschen Einheit“ bezeichnet?
  14. 218Wie viele Bundesländer kamen bei der Wiedervereinigung 1990 zur Bundesrepublik Deutschland hinzu?
  15. 219Die Bundesrepublik Deutschland hat die Grenzen von heute seit …
  16. 228Wie wird der Beitritt der DDR zur Bundesrepublik Deutschland im Jahr 1990 allgemein genannt?

Each question with its explanation is on the question pages. You can practise with answers in the app.

SourcesBundeszentrale für politische Bildung: Wirkung des BeitrittsBundesregierung: Die Mauer ist offenBundesregierung: Erste freie Wahlen in der DDRBundeszentrale für politische Bildung: Der Zwei-plus-Vier-VertragDeutscher Bundestag: Kanzler der Einheit wird 80 Jahre alt

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