Socialist Unity Party of Germany - Final Days: Collapse of The SED

Final Days: Collapse of The SED

See also: Revolutions of 1989

On the day of the 40th anniversary of the founding of the GDR, 7 October 1989, the old Social Democratic Party was (illegally) refounded. Following the riots in the GDR in October 1989, including those in East Berlin and Leipzig, on 18 October 1989, at a special Politbüro meeting, Honecker was forced to resign; he was replaced by Egon Krenz. The party made some attempts to adjust state policy, but could (or would) not satisfy the growing demands of the people for increased freedom. Even the party's decision to loosen travel restrictions to the West (through the opening of the border to West Germany and West Berlin) did not improve the situation. On 1 December 1989, the GDR parliament (Volkskammer) rescinded the clause in the GDR Constitution giving the SED the leading role in the country's politics. On 3 December 1989, the entire Central Committee and the Politbüro resigned. Egon Krenz resigned concurrently as General Secretary.

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