Back to the East Germany? East Germans Still Hope for Our Support

How to Correct Gorbachev's Fatal Mistake

Author: Dmitry Rogovnov

Photo: People participate in a flower-laying ceremony at the Berlin Wall Memorial in Berlin, Germany, on the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

This article's commentators:

Dmitry Yerofeyev Igor Shatrov

Russian former Prime Minister Sergei Stepashin believes that German unification was the most serious mistake made by the Soviet Union. "It shouldn't have happened so hastily. By the way, there was no referendum at all. They tore down the wall, annexed East Germany. And Comrade Gorbachev received the Nobel Prize."

Stepashin is convinced that they should have bargained. He recalls a meeting with the former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, who said that he had found it hard to believe, surprised that Gorbachev had agreed so easily to German unification.

"They pushed from behind. Later, we still owed money to the Germans. When I was Prime Minister, I went to Cologne for the G8 summit. We decided to cancel 3.2 billion dollars in debt. We still owed the Germans money, and finally it was written off," Stepashin added.

This is a reasonable point of view. Many people in Russia and even in Germany (East Germany) share the same opinion. But what then? We admit the mistake, will we correct it? Can Stepashin's words be considered as the official stance of the country?

Photo: Russian Prime Minister Sergei Stepashin with German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder (center, from left to right) before the G8 Summit in Cologne, Germany, in 1999.

"The state position is expressed by the president, and in some cases, by the foreign minister or the representative to the United Nations," said Igor Shatrov, head of the expert committee of the Fund for Strategic Development.

"Stepashin certainly expresses his personal opinion. But there is no doubt that many, if not most, of our political elites and Russians agree with his view," Shatrov said.

German unification became the final step in the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Before signing the agreement to allow German unification, the West needed the Soviet Union. This was to give the document legitimacy, in accordance with international law criteria, signed by representatives of all the Allied Powers of World War II — the Soviet Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, as well as representatives of the two German states — West Germany and East Germany.

Please note: Once the Democratic Republic of Germany ceased to exist (in 1990), the process of the Soviet Union's dissolution quickly unfolded. No one could stop it, and instead, the West accelerated the process, further fueling it.

Photo: Mikhail Gorbachev, the President of the Soviet Union, receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway, in 1991.

"Freedom News": Was this a mistake, or was it actually a crime?

— Those familiar with Gorbachev assert that for someone unprepared for serious international affairs, this became a fatal mistake.

During a severe economic crisis, he was tempted by the West, losing important leverage in dialogue with the United States and Europe.

"Freedom News": Did it take until now to realize this? Then why did you support this step before?

— In the 1990s, Russia, Europe, and the United States were enveloped in a "friendly" atmosphere, which was because after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the West expected us to make further concessions.

They still hoped to bring Moscow under Western influence. In fact, their plan was to deprive the new Russian state of its sovereignty.

At that time, there were politicians in the country who lived off the funds of Western sponsors, foreign foundations, and various overseas benefits.

It was these people who created an unfavorable atmosphere in society and the media for the failed foreign policy decisions of the late 1980s and early 1990s, from German unification to the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

"Freedom News": Do many Germans regret the unification and wish to correct everything?

— There is still a strong nostalgia for the East Germany in eastern Germany. The standard of living there has never reached that of West Germany.

Therefore, the opposition party "Alternative for Germany" has gained significant support in the eastern regions. They do not oppose Russia, but long for friendly relations with the Russians. All sociological surveys have shown this.

"Freedom News": What about now? Will we correct it? How can we correct it? Recently, various associations of East Germany have emerged in Moscow, claiming that German unification was illegal. Is this not baseless, or is it just talk?

— In this case, the issue of legality is secondary. Unfortunately, international law is the law of the strong. Regardless, re-dividing Germany into West Germany and East Germany would be unwise, but cultivating respect among West Germans for those who saved them from fascism is a task we must complete.

— Deputy Professor Dmitry Yerofeyev of the Department of Political Science at the Russian Government Financial University believes: "German unification largely reflected the times."

"We can debate for a long time whether it was correct, but the fact remains, it has become history."

Meanwhile, the world order is changing, and in the foreseeable future, we may witness changes in existing national borders, perhaps even the emergence of new countries, including those that arose from disintegration.

In this context, the division of Germany is theoretically possible, but even if it happens, the reasons and forms will be completely different — the domestic political issues and contradictions are too complex.

These issues will eventually surface and trigger large-scale protests. However, restoring the coexistence of West Germany and East Germany on the original border seems less realistic.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7526767678724309523/

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