Democracy and Federalism: Changes in the National Archival System in a United Germany

The turning point (Wende) that began in the fall of 1989 and which led to the reunification of Germany is reflected in sweeping changes in German archival structures, changes which occurred at such an accelerated pace that their impact cannot be fully realized as yet. The author gives a summary of the development of national archives in the Federal Republic of Germany and in the German Democratic Republic from the end of World War II to reunification on October 3, 1990. From May to October of 1990 plans were made for the reunification of archival structures. The author describes the cooperative work of archivists in East and West Germany and the resulting federal and state (Länder) archival structures.