20th anniversary of the peaceful revolution - Germany / Federal Republic of Germany 2009 - 55 Euro Cent

The peaceful citizens' protest, which developed in many places in the GDR in 1989, is one of the great events of German history. An increasing number of people at this stage found the courage to express their desire for political change such as reform, democratization and the rule of law in peaceful demonstrations. In the end, this movement led to the overthrow of the regime and allowed first free elections and a little later the German reunification in 1990. One of the reasons for success of the peaceful revolution in the GDR is that the rulers in East Germany lost their authority despite surveillance by the state security and other repressions the social atmosphere was characterized by increasing indifference and frustration before 1989. In addition, there were technological delays, chronic currency shortages, supply shortages, the collapse of historical town centers and, since the opening of the Hungarian-Austrian border, the mass flight of citizens. The course of the protests decided on October 9, 1989 in Leipzig. Here, the rulers had prepared for a violent "solution" and therefore pulled together armed organizations to prevent the announced demonstration. When 70,000 people dared to take to the streets under the slogans "No violence" and "We are the people", the regime did not dare to take action against this mass of demonstrators. In addition, the Soviet Union left their troops in the barracks. The Peaceful Revolution took its course and on November 9, 1989, the Wall fell.