The Government of East Germany closed the country's border with Czechoslovakia to prevent emigration of its citizens to the West, following a swelling exodus in the previous months. The next day, this measure was extended to Bulgaria and Romania.

This measure was proverbial the last straw that led to mass demonstrations across the country which forced the GDR Council of Ministers to lift the "temporary ban on travel without passport or visa" to Czechoslovakia on October 27. The lift meant citizens of the GDR could cross the border to the CSSR again with their identity card only.