Excerpt from Interview with Günter Schabowski, November 9, 1989

Question

Schabowski: (. . . scratches his head) You see, comrades, I was informed today (puts on his glasses as he speaks further), that such an announcement had been (um) distributed earlier today. You should actually have it already. So, (reading very quickly from the paper):

1) “Applications for travel abroad by private individuals can now be made without the previously existing requirements (of demonstrating a need to travel or proving familial relationships). The travel authorizations will be issued within a short time. Grounds for denial will only be applied in particular exceptional cases. The responsible departments of passport and registration control in the People's Police district offices in the GDR are instructed to issue visas for permanent exit without delays and without presentation of the existing requirements for permanent exit.”

Question: With a passport?

Schabowski: (um . . .)(reads:) “Permanent exit is possible via all GDR border crossings to the FRG.[2] These changes replace the temporary practice of issuing [travel] authorizations through GDR consulates and permanent exit with a GDR personal identity card via third countries.”

Use the excerpt to answer the question.

This excerpt immediately preceded which of the following significant final Cold War events?

A.
the collapse of the Soviet Union

B.
the fall of the Berlin Wall

C.
the rise of Polish Solidarity

D.
the split of Czechoslovakia

Answer 1

B. The fall of the Berlin Wall.

Answer 2

Schabowski: (. . . scratches his head) You see, comrades, I was informed today (puts on his glasses as he speaks further), that such an announcement had been (um) distributed earlier today. You should actually have it already. So, (reading very quickly from the paper):

1) “Applications for travel abroad by private individuals can now be made without the previously existing requirements (of demonstrating a need to travel or proving familial relationships). The travel authorizations will be issued within a short time. Grounds for denial will only be applied in particular exceptional cases. The responsible departments of passport and registration control in the People's Police district offices in the GDR are instructed to issue visas for permanent exit without delays and without presentation of the existing requirements for permanent exit.”

Question: With a passport?

Schabowski: (um . . .)(reads:) “Permanent exit is possible via all GDR border crossings to the FRG.[2] These changes replace the temporary practice of issuing [travel] authorizations through GDR consulates and permanent exit with a GDR personal identity card via third countries.”
Use the excerpt Interview with Gunter Schabowski, November 9, 1989 to answer the question.
This excerpt immediately preceded which of the following significant final Cold War events? Explain
A. the collapse of the Soviet Union
B. the fall of the Berlin Wall
C. the rise of Polish Solidarity
D. the split of Czechoslovakia

Answer 3

B. The fall of the Berlin Wall. The excerpt includes Schabowski announcing the changes in travel regulations, specifically allowing permanent exit from East Germany to West Germany via all border crossings without the previous requirements. This announcement led to a flood of East Germans heading to the Berlin Wall and other border crossings, demanding to be let through, and eventually leading to the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989. This was a significant final Cold War event that symbolized the end of the East-West division in Europe.