October 7, 8 and 9: The first mass demonstration against the Communist regime in the GDR began in Plauen, East Germany, kick-starting a series of mass demonstrations in the whole GDR which ultimately led to the reunification of Germany in 1990. The following day, in Dresden, some 20 thousand people gathered in protest, led by a priest. Then, on October 9, in Leipzig, over 70 thousand people gathered after the peace prayers, surrounded by some 8 thousand strong police force, chanting, “We are not thugs. We are the people.” They demanded the legalization of opposition groups and democratic reforms.

October 16: another demonstration in Leipzig, drawing over 100 thousand people on the city’s central Karl-Marx-Platz. People demanded that the Neues Forum to be allowed, free election and freedom to travel and expression.

Some memories of these events: The Beginning of the End of East Germany on thelocal.de

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