I was thinking about this in more depth today and decided to restart by listing the GDR's primary problems and attaching solutions to each one.
1. By the mid to late '80s, the GDR was both morally and economically bankrupt.
1a) Solution: Maybe somewhere miraculously, the GDR manages to uncover secret bunkers of gold that were stored by the Nazis during the war in the GDR, as well as dozens of Swiss bank accounts that Nazi officials had. This would give the GDR a much needed hard currency infusion to play around with. Modest cuts in defense spending as well as domestic spying, also help as does the removal of Soviet troops in the 1990s.
As for moral bankruptcy, perhaps open the borders a little bit to make it easier for every day interaction between East and West. An agreement would have to be reached under which the GFR would refuse asylum requests for those traveling under certain types of permits. Freedom of speech and the press is loosened, and the GDR even begins to permit limited distribution of Western media. In 1990, 100 seats are allowed to be contested in the Volkskammer by non SED parties.
2. There was little love lost between Moscow and the Honecker regime in East Berlin. Gorbachev, in particular, was more than content to leave Honecker out to dry.
Solution: Moscow intervenes and elevates Konrad Naumann, head of the SED's East Berlin party organization, to the leadership. Naumann was backed by Moscow and hated by Honecker, and perhaps with different leadership, Moscow is more willing to go out on a limb for the GDR. Although a hardliner initally, Naumann quickly realizes the harsh realities of the GDR's situation and institutes a dialogue with the GFR. Moscow's support of the GDR (supposedly fueled by fears of a unified Germany) is enough to buy a 15 year no unification clause when things start to get bad in the late 1980s.
3. Although its situation had improved by 1989, East Germany was still a pariah in the international community in many respects and garnered little sympathy.
Solution: The GDR gains international respect by cracking down on terrorism, arresting Libyan terrorist operatives, and snaring Carlos the Jackal(and subsequently shipping him off to France for trial). In addition, in 1988, at the Olympics, athletes from both Germanies march into the opening ceremonies together, fueling rumors of plans for a secret joint Berlin Bid for the upcoming 1996 games. Also in 1988 Naumann conducts the first ever state visit to Washington on behalf of the GDR. In 1990, the GDR sends troops as part of Operation Desert Storm.
4. The overwhelming desire for German unity.
Solution: Cannot think of one at this time.
1. By the mid to late '80s, the GDR was both morally and economically bankrupt.
1a) Solution: Maybe somewhere miraculously, the GDR manages to uncover secret bunkers of gold that were stored by the Nazis during the war in the GDR, as well as dozens of Swiss bank accounts that Nazi officials had. This would give the GDR a much needed hard currency infusion to play around with. Modest cuts in defense spending as well as domestic spying, also help as does the removal of Soviet troops in the 1990s.
As for moral bankruptcy, perhaps open the borders a little bit to make it easier for every day interaction between East and West. An agreement would have to be reached under which the GFR would refuse asylum requests for those traveling under certain types of permits. Freedom of speech and the press is loosened, and the GDR even begins to permit limited distribution of Western media. In 1990, 100 seats are allowed to be contested in the Volkskammer by non SED parties.
2. There was little love lost between Moscow and the Honecker regime in East Berlin. Gorbachev, in particular, was more than content to leave Honecker out to dry.
Solution: Moscow intervenes and elevates Konrad Naumann, head of the SED's East Berlin party organization, to the leadership. Naumann was backed by Moscow and hated by Honecker, and perhaps with different leadership, Moscow is more willing to go out on a limb for the GDR. Although a hardliner initally, Naumann quickly realizes the harsh realities of the GDR's situation and institutes a dialogue with the GFR. Moscow's support of the GDR (supposedly fueled by fears of a unified Germany) is enough to buy a 15 year no unification clause when things start to get bad in the late 1980s.
3. Although its situation had improved by 1989, East Germany was still a pariah in the international community in many respects and garnered little sympathy.
Solution: The GDR gains international respect by cracking down on terrorism, arresting Libyan terrorist operatives, and snaring Carlos the Jackal(and subsequently shipping him off to France for trial). In addition, in 1988, at the Olympics, athletes from both Germanies march into the opening ceremonies together, fueling rumors of plans for a secret joint Berlin Bid for the upcoming 1996 games. Also in 1988 Naumann conducts the first ever state visit to Washington on behalf of the GDR. In 1990, the GDR sends troops as part of Operation Desert Storm.
4. The overwhelming desire for German unity.
Solution: Cannot think of one at this time.