Intense exchanges were taking place between the GDR and the Federal Republic long before the fall of the Iron Curtain. "These talks played a major role in bringing about German unity," is Hans Joachim Gießmann's analysis. The primary aim was to establish common concepts and a shared understanding of the world, says moderator Irina Mohr. Did Bahr neglect the citizens' movement in the process? Yes, says political scientist Gießmann, adding that Bahr was self critical, and admitted this. But, he adds, "The environment that enabled an opposition movement to exist in the GDR was a result of the policy of détente." -mb

Katrin Rulle

Political scientist Hans-Joachim Gießmann began his professional life in 1981, describing this as a time when "there was increasing rapprochement between the Federal Republic and the GDR." He said Bahr's ideas "fascinated" him. Gießmann recalled concepts such as the "security community," which emerged in the East and West at the same time. In 1984, he recalls writing an essay on "common security" that was largely inspired by Egon Bahr. -ls

Katrin Rulle