The West German ZDF correspondent Peter van Loyen is extradited from the GDR because of a report on GDR author Stefan Heym for which he did not obtain permission.
16 May
1979
GDR head of planning Gerhard Schürer again tells the SED Politburo that the GDR’s capacity to import and to maintain solvency "is to a huge extent dependent on the willingness of capitalist banks to lend us money."
22 May
1979
The GDR author Stefan Heym is given a fine of 9,000 DM for "currency offences".
23 May
1979
The previous parliamentary speaker, Karl Carstens (CDU), is elected as the new West German president.