October 1990

In March 1990, East Germany's first free elections set the stage for a speedier German reunification. In May, the two Germanys and the four countries (United States, Britain, France, and the Soviet Union) that had occupied Germany following World War II began talking about German reunification. On October 3, 1990, Germany was reunited as one country for the first time since the end of World War II. Former West German Chnacellor Helmut Kohl won an overwhelming victory on December 2 in the first Germany-wide elections since World War II.