Wende

Wende is a German noun meaning turning point or turning of direction. The term derives from the verb wenden, “to turn,” and is used to denote a major change in policy, situation, or approach. In political history, Die Wende refers most often to the late 1980s and early 1990s, when East Germany and the broader Eastern Bloc underwent sweeping upheavals that culminated in German reunification.

Historically, the Wende describes the set of events that began with reform movements within the German Democratic Republic and were amplified by broader changes in the Soviet sphere under Mikhail Gorbachev’s policies of perestroika and glasnost. Public demonstrations, gradual relaxation of travel restrictions, and negotiations with Western partners undermined the East German regime. The fall of the Berlin Wall on 9 November 1989 became a powerful symbol of this turning point, signaling the collapse of the Cold War division in Europe. The process continued through 1990, with East German parliamentary elections and the formal agreement that led to the reunification of East and West Germany on 3 October 1990.

Impact and interpretation of the Wende vary. It brought profound political, economic, and social transformations, including the integration of East Germany into a unified state and the challenges of economic modernization and social cohesion. The term is also used more broadly to signify turning points in other domains, such as the Energiewende, or Germany’s energy transition, reflecting a general use of Wende to denote major change.