7 November (Tuesday)
Because of the protests by the CSSR, the SED Politburo decides at its regular Tuesday meeting to put the section of the draft travel bill on leaving the country into force early and to draw up corresponding regulations. The Soviet Union and West Germany are informed of this intention on the same day. RIAS reports on the situation in the Prague embassy. The motives for leaving the GDR are presented in a collage.
After consultation with the Chancellor, West German Chancellery Minister Rudolf Seiters informs Alexander Schalck-Golodkowski on the telephone of the following general stipulations, drawn up in response to the discussions of the previous day, to be passed on to the Chairman of the GDR State Council: if the GDR wants material and financial help from West Germany, it has to be willing for "the State Council Chairman to declare publicly that the GDR is prepared to guarantee that the formation of opposition groups will be permitted and affirm that it will hold free elections within a period yet to be announced. It should be noted that this path is possible only if the SED gives up its claim to absolute power." If the GDR fulfils these conditions, Seiters says, the Chancellor thinks that "much can be achieved and every option is imaginable." Schalck passes on these demands to Egon Krenz.
In November, 133,429 GDR citizens manage to flee to the West.
