Reunification - Leben in Deutschland Test

German reunification 1989/1990

Module: History and Responsibility

Number of Questions: 15

All questions in this category:

1. Question 191: When was the wall opened for everyone in Berlin?

   Answer Options:

   1. A) 1987
   2. B) 1989 ✓ (Correct Answer)
   3. C) 1992
   4. D) 1995

   Explanation:

   The correct answer is 1989. This date marks the fall of the Berlin Wall, a pivotal moment in German history that symbolized the end of division and the path towards reunification. The opening of the wall was a direct consequence of the evolving political climate and the will of the people, ultimately leading to the reunification of Germany. Option A, 1987, is incorrect as the wall was still firmly in place and a symbol of division during that year. Option C, 1992, and option D, 1995, are too late; by these years, Germany had already been reunified for some time, and the wall's fall was a memory. The opening of the Berlin Wall in 1989 was a momentous event that paved the way for German reunification. It was a powerful expression of the desire for freedom and unity that swept across East Germany.

   Study Tip:

   The year the Berlin Wall fell is the same year Germany began its reunification process.

2. Question 192: Which today's German state belonged to the area of the GDR?

   Answer Options:

   1. A) Brandenburg ✓ (Correct Answer)
   2. B) Bavaria
   3. C) Saarland
   4. D) Hesse

   Explanation:

   The correct answer is Brandenburg because it was one of the five new states established in East Germany (DDR) after reunification in 1990, aligning with the principle of German unity and the establishment of federal states. Bavaria, Saarland, and Hessen were never part of the German Democratic Republic; they were all states within the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) before and after reunification. Therefore, options B, C, and D are incorrect as they represent territories outside the former DDR. Brandenburg's re-establishment as a federal state reflects the historical reintegration of the former DDR territories into the unified Federal Republic of Germany.

   Study Tip:

   Remember Brandenburg as the state that was a core part of the DDR and rejoined the Federal Republic.

3. Question 194: On October 3rd, the Day of German ... is celebrated in Germany

   Answer Options:

   1. A) Unit ✓ (Correct Answer)
   2. B) nation
   3. C) Federal states
   4. D) Cities

   Explanation:

   The correct answer is A. Einheit. This date commemorates the reunification of East and West Germany in 1990, a fundamental event in modern German history that is enshrined in the Basic Law as a day of national significance. Option B, Nation, is incorrect because while October 3rd relates to the German nation, the specific legal and historical designation is "Tag der Deutschen Einheit." Option C, Bundesländer, is incorrect as the federal states are celebrated on various occasions and not specifically on this date. Option D, Städte, is also incorrect because cities are not the primary focus of this national holiday. This day represents the successful overcoming of division and the re-establishment of a unified Germany, a core principle of the Federal Republic.

   Study Tip:

   Remember: October 3rd is the Day of German Unity, symbolizing the country's reunification.

4. Question 195: Which today's German state belonged to the area of the GDR?

   Answer Options:

   1. A) Hesse
   2. B) Saxony-Anhalt ✓ (Correct Answer)
   3. C) North Rhine-Westphalia
   4. D) Saarland

   Explanation:

   The correct answer is B. Sachsen-Anhalt. This is because Sachsen-Anhalt was one of the five re-established states of East Germany (DDR) that joined the Federal Republic of Germany upon reunification in 1990, as stipulated by Article 23 of the Basic Law. Option A, Hessen, was part of the former West Germany and was never under GDR rule. Similarly, option C, Nordrhein-Westfalen, and option D, Saarland, were also integral parts of West Germany before reunification and did not belong to the territory of the DDR. Therefore, only Sachsen-Anhalt represents a former GDR state that is now a German Bundesland.

   Study Tip:

   Remember the five new states of the Federal Republic: Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia.

5. Question 196: Why is the time in autumn 1989 in the GDR called "The Turning Point"? During this time, the GDR changed politically ...

   Answer Options:

   1. A) From a dictatorship to democracy ✓ (Correct Answer)
   2. B) From a liberal market economy to socialism
   3. C) From a monarchy to social democracy
   4. D) From a religious state to a communist state

   Explanation:

   The period in the autumn of 1989 in the GDR is called "Die Wende" because it marked a fundamental political transformation. This era saw the country transition from an authoritarian, one-party dictatorship to a democratic system, aligning with the principles of self-determination and the rule of law. Option B is incorrect because the GDR was already a socialist state, and the "Wende" involved moving away from that system, not towards a liberal market economy. Option C is incorrect as the GDR was never a monarchy, and its transition was not specifically to social democracy, but rather to a broader democratic framework. Option D is incorrect because the GDR was not a religious state; it was officially atheistic, and the change was away from communism, not towards it.

   Study Tip:

   The 'Wende' signifies a turning point from dictatorship to democracy.

6. Question 197: Which today's German state belonged to the area of the GDR?

   Answer Options:

   1. A) Thuringia ✓ (Correct Answer)
   2. B) Hesse
   3. C) Bavaria
   4. D) Bremen

   Explanation:

   The correct answer is Thüringen because it was one of the five new states established in the former German Democratic Republic after reunification in 1990, as stipulated by Article 3 of the Unification Treaty. Hessen is located in West Germany and was never part of the GDR. Bayern, also in West Germany, has a long history separate from the GDR. Bremen, a city-state in the northwest, was part of the Federal Republic of Germany prior to reunification. Therefore, only Thüringen fits the historical context of being a former GDR territory.

   Study Tip:

   Remember the 'Th' sound in Thüringen and 'Thre' in 'three' new states formed in the East, though Thüringen is just one of them.

7. Question 198: Which today's German state belonged to the area of the GDR?

   Answer Options:

   1. A) Bavaria
   2. B) Lower Saxony
   3. C) Saxony ✓ (Correct Answer)
   4. D) Baden-Württemberg

   Explanation:

   The correct answer is Sachsen because it was one of the five re-established states that formed the territory of the German Democratic Republic (DDR) before German reunification. The reunification process, guided by principles of self-determination and the Basic Law, reintegrated these territories into the Federal Republic of Germany. Option A, Bayern, has always been part of West Germany. Option B, Niedersachsen, also remained in West Germany. Option D, Baden-Württemberg, similarly was not part of the DDR. Sachsen, along with Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Sachsen-Anhalt, and Thüringen, were the states that constituted the territory of the former DDR.

   Study Tip:

   Remember the eastern states: Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt, Thüringen.

8. Question 200: Which today's German state belonged to the area of the GDR?

   Answer Options:

   1. A) Hesse
   2. B) Schleswig-Holstein
   3. C) Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania ✓ (Correct Answer)
   4. D) Saarland

   Explanation:

   The correct answer is Mecklenburg-Vorpommern because it was one of the five new states established in the territory of the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) after reunification in 1990, as stipulated by Article 3 of the Unification Treaty. Hessen was part of West Germany and was never under GDR rule. Schleswig-Holstein also remained in West Germany and was not part of the GDR. Saarland was a separate territory after World War II before joining West Germany in 1957. Therefore, only Mecklenburg-Vorpommern fits the description of a current German federal state that was formerly part of the GDR.

   Study Tip:

   Remember the eastern states: Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia were the five states formed from the GDR.

9. Question 201: Which of the following lists contains only federal states that belong to the area of the former GDR? Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, Schleswig-Holstein, Brandenburgmecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Brandenburg, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia

   Answer Options:

   1. A) Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, Schleswig-Holstein, Brandenburg
   2. B) Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Brandenburg, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia ✓ (Correct Answer)
   3. C) Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Thuringia, Saxony
   4. D) Saxony, Thuringia, Hesse, Lower Saxony, Brandenburg

   Explanation:

   Option B is correct because Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Brandenburg, Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt, and Thüringen are the five states that were formed from the territory of the German Democratic Republic after reunification, adhering to the principle of territorial continuity and the Basic Law's provisions for the incorporation of new states. Option A is incorrect because Niedersachsen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Hessen, and Schleswig-Holstein were part of West Germany. Brandenburg was part of the GDR, but the inclusion of the western states makes the entire option incorrect. Option C is incorrect because Bayern, Baden-Württemberg, and Rheinland-Pfalz were also part of West Germany; only Thüringen and Sachsen are from the former GDR. Option D is incorrect because Hessen and Niedersachsen were not part of the former GDR. To remember the states of the former GDR, think of them as the "New Eastern States" that joined the Federal Republic.

   Study Tip:

   The five states formed from the former GDR are Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Brandenburg, Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt, and Thüringen.

10. Question 204: How did the Federal Republic of Germany and the GDR become a state?

    Answer Options:

    1. A) The Federal Republic has occupied the GDR
    2. B) Today's five eastern federal states have joined the Federal Republic of Germany ✓ (Correct Answer)
    3. C) The western federal states have joined the GDR
    4. D) The GDR has occupied the Federal Republic of Germany

    Explanation:

    Option B is correct because the reunification of Germany occurred through the accession of the German Democratic Republic to the Federal Republic of Germany, as stipulated by Article 23 of the Basic Law. This process effectively expanded the Federal Republic to include the territory of the former GDR. Option A is incorrect because the Federal Republic did not occupy the GDR; rather, the GDR's states joined the Federal Republic. Option D is incorrect as the GDR did not occupy the Federal Republic; the power dynamic was reversed. Option C is incorrect because the western federal states did not join the GDR; the GDR as a state ceased to exist upon its accession. The reunification was an act of the states of the GDR choosing to become part of the existing Federal Republic.

    Study Tip:

    The eastern German states joined the Federal Republic, like adding new rooms to an existing house.

11. Question 205: When the GDR joins the Federal Republic of Germany, the new federal states are now also ...

    Answer Options:

    1. A) To the European Union ✓ (Correct Answer)
    2. B) To the Warsaw Pact
    3. C) To the Opec
    4. D) to the European defense community

    Explanation:

    The correct answer is "zur Europäischen Union" because the accession of the GDR to the Federal Republic of Germany on October 3, 1990, meant that the new federal states automatically became part of the existing legal framework of the Federal Republic, which included membership in the European Union. This principle of continuity of law and international agreements is fundamental to state succession. Option B, "zum Warschauer Pakt," is incorrect because the Warsaw Pact dissolved in 1991, and the GDR was already a member of the European Union before reunification. Option C, "zur OPEC," is also incorrect as the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries is an economic cartel for oil-producing nations, and Germany is not a member. Option D, "zur Europäischen Verteidigungsgemeinschaft," was a proposed but ultimately unsuccessful European defense alliance that never came into effect. Therefore, the only accurate statement reflecting the post-unification status of the new federal states is their inclusion within the European Union, a direct consequence of the Federal Republic's existing membership.

    Study Tip:

    The reunification of Germany brought the GDR into the existing European Union framework.

12. Question 206: What do the so-called "stumbling stones" in Germany commemorate?

    Answer Options:

    1. A) famous German politicians
    2. B) the victims of National Socialism ✓ (Correct Answer)
    3. C) traffic fatalities
    4. D) well-known Jewish musicians

    Explanation:

    "Stolpersteine" are a powerful memorial designed to commemorate individuals who were persecuted and murdered during the National Socialist era. Their placement directly in front of the last known residence of the victims aligns with the civic principle of remembering and learning from history to prevent future atrocities. Option A is incorrect because while some politicians were victims, the Stolpersteine are not specifically dedicated to politicians in general. Option C is incorrect as the Stolpersteine have no connection to traffic fatalities. Option D, while representing a specific group of victims, is too narrow; the Stolpersteine honor all victims of Nazi persecution, not solely Jewish musicians. The Stolpersteine serve as a constant, tangible reminder of the human cost of the Nazi regime's ideology.

    Study Tip:

    The name 'Stolpersteine' itself suggests stumbling, a physical reminder to pause and remember the victims.

13. Question 218: How many federal states were added to the Federal Republic of Germany at the reunification in 1990?

    Answer Options:

    1. A) 4
    2. B) 5 ✓ (Correct Answer)
    3. C) 6
    4. D) 7

    Explanation:

    The correct answer is 5. The accession of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) to the Federal Republic of Germany in 1990, as stipulated by Article 23 of the Basic Law, involved the incorporation of five new states: Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia. Option A, 4, is incorrect as it does not reflect the number of states that joined. Option C, 6, and Option D, 7, also do not accurately represent the number of federal states that were re-established and integrated into the Federal Republic at the time of reunification. The reunification was a complex process of accession, not a creation of new states within the existing Federal Republic, hence the specific number of five former GDR states.

    Study Tip:

    The five new states are Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia.

14. Question 219: The Federal Republic of Germany has the limits of today ...

    Answer Options:

    1. A) 1933
    2. B) 1949
    3. C) 1971
    4. D) 1990 ✓ (Correct Answer)

    Explanation:

    The correct answer is 1990 because this marks the date of German reunification, when the former German Democratic Republic joined the Federal Republic of Germany, establishing the current territorial boundaries. This event is fundamental to understanding the modern political and geographical landscape of Germany. Option A, 1933, is incorrect as it predates the establishment of the Federal Republic and is associated with a very different and tragic period in German history. Option B, 1949, is when the Federal Republic of Germany was founded, but its territory was significantly smaller at that time. Option C, 1971, is incorrect as it relates to specific treaties concerning West Berlin, not the establishment of the current national borders.

    Study Tip:

    1990 is the year of reunification, creating today's Germany.

15. Question 228: How is the GDR accessible to the Federal Republic of Germany in general in 1990?

    Answer Options:

    1. A) NATO east extension
    2. B) EU east expansion
    3. C) German reunification ✓ (Correct Answer)
    4. D) European Community

    Explanation:

    Option C, "Deutsche Wiedervereinigung," is the correct answer because it accurately describes the historical event of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) joining the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) in 1990. This principle is rooted in the right to self-determination and the desire for national unity, as envisioned by the Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany. Option A, "NATO-Osterweiterung," is incorrect as it refers to the expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization eastward, which is a separate geopolitical process. Option B, "EU-Osterweiterung," is also incorrect because it describes the enlargement of the European Union, a different historical and political development. Option D, "Europäische Gemeinschaft," refers to a predecessor organization of the European Union and does not specifically name the reunification of Germany. The term "Deutsche Wiedervereinigung" directly and precisely captures the essence of the GDR's accession to the Federal Republic, signifying the overcoming of division and the restoration of a single German state.

    Study Tip:

    Remember 'Wiedervereinigung' means 'reunification' – the two German states coming together again.