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Chronicle 1988

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    • 2 November

      1988

      The GDR plans to tighten the penal code for political crimes.

      In a memo to Erich Honecker, Egon Krenz writes that "making an attempted crime punishable in the case of the production and distribution of written material and symbols libelling the state makes it possible to take action against the offenders at the earliest stage possible. A change in the definition of ‘forming a mob’ also helps make procedures flexible." However, it was necessary "to consider that Western media will make malicious comments on these reforms in the penal code." Memo from Egon Krenz to Erich Honecker with the proposal to tighten up the political penal code, 2 November 1988 (in German) less
    • 8 November

      1988

      Election of the former Vice President George Bush as the 41st president of the USA.
    • 9/10 November

      1988

      Chancellery minister Wolfgang Schäuble holds talks in East Berlin with SED General Secretary Erich Honecker on German-German relations.
    • 11 November

      1988

      Resignation of the Speaker of the Bundestag, Philipp Jenninger (CDU), after his controversial speech commemorating the "Reichskristallnacht" pogrom in 1938. He is succeeded by Rita Süssmuth (CDU).
    • 17/18 November

      1988

      The Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu is awarded the Karl Marx Medal in East Berlin for his achievements. During a private conversation, Honecker criticises the Soviet rulers, especially their media policies: more
    • 19 November

      1988

      The Soviet magazine "Sputnik", which comes out in the GDR, is taken from the list of postal newspaper distribution in the GDR. more
    • 20-24 November

      1988

      An official delegation from the European Parliament visits the GDR Volkskammer for the first time.
    • 23 November

      1988

      Central Committee economics secretary Günter Mittag tells the small circle of people responsible for the GDR economy: "The way things are looking we’re headed for a crash. A complete write-off!" more
    • 30 November

      1988

      The GDR Council of Ministers issues the first travel regulation that is not secret, but published in the GDR law gazette. The political basis of the regulation from the point of view of the Politburo is not to create any opportunities for travel going beyond previous practice and also not to allow an increase in the constant emigrations. more
  • December 
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