At the moment of the publication of this book 75 years have passedsince the defeat and beginning of the occupation of Germany by thevictorious Allies, and 30 years since the reunification of thecountry, within restricted boundaries, after 45 years of division. Iwas born in the New World 20 years after the end of the war, livedmost of my youth with the reality of the division, and witnessed thewhole reunification process, as a member of a family of German descent living outside Germany. My interest in the subject, plus severallogical links to Germany, a vision «from abroad» and obviously myknowledge of German, helped me to start preparing in 1987, well before any possibility of reunification existed, a legal thesis which,unexpectedly, even for me, turned into reality with the fall of theBerlin Wall in 1989 and the reunification in 1990. I was able todeliver the final work, my professional thesis, personally into thehands of Federal President Richard von Weizsäcker during his statevisit to Mexico in 1992. And shortly thereafter I received from him avery rewarding letter. But just now, after 30 years, I am able topublish in English this reworked and updated version of my originalthesis, now as a history book. I have tried to condense and explainthe facts of 45 years of division so Germans and foreigners can have a full and objective view of all the aspects -historical, political,territorial and legal alike- pertaining to the so-called «GermanQuestion» during the period 1945-1990. I hope you enjoy it.
At the moment of the publication of this book 75 years have passedsince the defeat and beginning of the occupation of Germany by thevictorious Allies, and 30 years since the reunification of thecountry, within restricted boundaries, after 45 years of division. Iwas born in the New World 20 years after the end of the war, livedmost of my youth with the reality of the division, and witnessed thewhole reunification process, as a member of a family of German descent living outside Germany. My interest in the subject, plus severallogical links to Germany, a vision «from abroad» and obviously myknowledge of German, helped me to start preparing in 1987, well before any possibility of reunification existed, a legal thesis which,unexpectedly, even for me, turned into reality with the fall of theBerlin Wall in 1989 and the reunification in 1990. I was able todeliver the final work, my professional thesis, personally into thehands of Federal President Richard von Weizsäcker during his statevisit to Mexico in 1992. And shortly thereafter I received from him avery rewarding letter. But just now, after 30 years, I am able topublish in English this reworked and updated version of my originalthesis, now as a history book. I have tried to condense and explainthe facts of 45 years of division so Germans and foreigners can have a full and objective view of all the aspects -historical, political,territorial and legal alike- pertaining to the so-called «GermanQuestion» during the period 1945-1990. I hope you enjoy it.
