The Fall of the GDR

An inside look at the collapse of the German Democratic Republic

Uses first hand interviews of key GDR figures Includes information from never-before seen documentary material "The Fall of the GDR" will establish itself as the standard account of events for the foreseeable future.

Focusing on the momentous events of 1989-90, this meticulous and authoritative review of the collapse of the GDR uses first-hand interview material with a number of the leading figures from the CDU, PSD and MdB to provide a detailed account and analysis of the collapse of East Germany. David Childs provides an account of the regime and the GDR as a state and its collapse in the face of developments in East Europe and the USSR. "The Fall of the GDR" also includes an examination of the democratic elections and the reunification of Germany.A sampling of the people interviewed includes: Andre Andrich, Neues Forum; Dr Sabine Bergmann-Pohl, MdB, former President of the Volkskammer, Dr Heinrich Bortfeldt, SED; Dr Manfred Braune, CDU, Dr Eberhard Brecht, MdB; Col Prof. Dr Helmut Eck; Dr Helmut Ettinger, formerly diplomatic service of the GDR, PDS, Berlin, Egon Krenz, formerly Gen Secretary of the SED and Chairman of the Council of State of the GDR, Roland May, SPD Leipzig; Prof. Dr Walter Friedrich, former Director of the Institut fur Jugendforschung, Leipzig; Horst Gibtner, MdB, former Minister of Transport of the GDR; Dr Wolfgang Gudenschwager, CDU, Berlin; Dr Kietmar Keller, MdB, former Minister of Culture of GDR; Captain Wilfried Mannewitz, formerly of the MfS"The Fall of the GDR" It will establish itself as the standard account of events for the foreseeable futureand is a must read for anyone interested in the history of Germany or who follows resurgent Germany and its role in today's Europe.

David Childs is a professor of German Politics at the Universtiy of Nottingham in England. He has worked on East Germany since the 1950s and has visited many times. He was a lifelong critic of the regime and has cultivated an extensive list of contacts from all walks of life during this period, including politicians, government ministers and academics.