New Forum (german: Neues Forum) was a political movement in

East Germany East Germany, officially the German Democratic Republic (GDR; german: Deutsche Demokratische Republik, , DDR, ), was a country that existed from its creation on 7 October 1949 until its dissolution on 3 October 1990. In these years the state ...

formed in the months leading up to the collapse of the East German state. It was founded on 9 September 1989 and was the first independent (non- National Front) political movement to be recognised by the

Socialist Unity Party of Germany The Socialist Unity Party of Germany (german: Sozialistische Einheitspartei Deutschlands, ; SED, ), often known in English as the East German Communist Party, was the founding and ruling party of the German Democratic Republic (GDR; East German ...

-led state on 8 November 1989. In February 1990 it formed Alliance 90 (Bündnis 90) with

Democracy Now ''Democracy Now!'' is an hour-long American TV, radio, and Internet news program hosted by journalists Amy Goodman (who also acts as the show's executive producer), Juan González, and Nermeen Shaikh. The show, which airs live each weekday at ...

(Demokratie Jetzt) (DJ) and the Initiative for Peace and Human Rights (Initiative für Frieden und Menschenrechte) (IFM). The New Forum was the first countrywide political movement in the GDR outside the Protestant church. Members of the Peace Movement, including

Bärbel Bohley Bärbel Bohley (24 May 1945 – 11 September 2010) was an East German opposition figure and artist. Biography As an artist, Bohley won prizes from the authorities, including a trip to the Soviet Union. Her opposition to the government did n ...

, Ingrid Köppe, Rolf Henrich, Jens Reich and Reinhard Meinel signed the "Aufbruch 89" nitiative 89founding proclamation on 9/10 September 1989 in Grünheide, which had been the last home of the dissident

Robert Havemann Robert Havemann (; 11 March 1910 – 9 April 1982) was an East German chemist and dissident. Life and career He studied chemistry in Berlin and Munich from 1929 to 1933, and then later received a doctorate in physical chemistry from the Kaise ...

. New Forum demanded a dialogue about democratic reforms, with the aim, together with the largest possible participation from the population, of 'reshaping' society. 19 September 1989 – Members apply for registration 21 September 1989 – Registration denied by the Interior Ministry: the New Forum is 'anti-state' and 'illegal'. Demonstrations follow. The increased pressure forces the authorities to allow New Forum to exist, and finally recognise it as a political organisation. By the end of 1989, 200,000 people have signed the proclamation, and there are approx. 10,000 full members. New Forum demands free and democratic elections. Local New Forum groups are active mostly in the cities. Discussions about the development of grass-roots democracy led by the end of 1989 to a dispute over whether New Forum should become a party or remain a movement. 27–28 January 1990 – About one quarter of the members (mostly from the southern regions of the GDR) split from New Forum and form the

German Forum Party The German Forum Party (german: Deutsche Forumpartei) was an opposition political party in East Germany. It was formed from the New Forum (''Neues Forum'') citizens' movement. It was founded in Karl-Marx-Stadt (now Chemnitz) on 27 January 1990. It ...

(DFP). New Forum retains its grass-roots democratic structure. February 1990 – New Forum joins with other opposition groups (Initiative Frieden und Menschenrechte (The Initiative for Peace and Human Rights] and Demokratie Jetzt emocracy Now to form the political party Bündnis 90. May 1993 – Bündnis 90 and the West German Green party join to form

Bündnis 90/Die Grünen Alliance 90/The Greens (german: Bündnis 90/Die Grünen, ), often simply referred to as the Greens ( ), is a green political party in Germany. It was formed in 1993 as the merger of The Greens (formed in West Germany in 1980) and Alliance 90 (for ...

Notable former members

* Christoph Bergner, later joined CDU, Minister-President of Saxony-Anhalt 1993–94 *

Joachim Gauck Joachim Wilhelm Gauck (; born 24 January 1940) is a German politician and civil rights activist who served as President of Germany from 2012 to 2017. A former Lutheran pastor, he came to prominence as an anti-communist civil rights activist in E ...

, Federal Commissioner for the Stasi Archives 1990–2000, President of Germany 2012–2017 * Jens Reich * Claudia Nolte, later joined CDU, Minister of Family, Seniors, Women and Youth Affairs 1994–98 *

Werner Schulz Werner Gustav Schulz (22 January 1950 – 9 November 2022) was a German politician of Alliance '90/The Greens. Trained in food technology at the Humboldt University of Berlin, he worked as a research assistant. He was an activist for peace ec ...

, later joined Alliance '90/The Greens, Member of European Parliament 2009–2014 * Johanna Wanka, later joined CDU, Minister of Education and Research 2013–2018 * Petra Lux *

Heiner Müller Heiner Müller (; 9 January 1929 – 30 December 1995) was a German (formerly East German) dramatist, poet, writer, essayist and theatre director. His "enigmatic, fragmentary pieces" are a significant contribution to postmodern drama and postdr ...

* Karin Ugowski *

Stefan Heym Helmut Flieg or Hellmuth Fliegel (10 April 1913 – 16 December 2001) was a German writer, known by his pseudonym Stefan Heym (). He lived in the United States and trained at Camp Ritchie, making him one of the Ritchie Boys of World War II. I ...

* Ulrich Mühe *

Jan Josef Liefers Jan Josef Liefers (born 8 August 1964), is a German actor, producer, director and musician. Life Liefers was born in Dresden, the son of director Karlheinz Liefers and actress Brigitte Liefers-Wähner. After his apprenticeship he studied at th ...

References

External links

New Forum from ''chronik der wende''
{{Authority control Peaceful Revolution Organizations of the Revolutions of 1989 Political parties in East Germany Dissent Political parties established in 1989 1989 establishments in East Germany

Notable former members

See also

References

External links