Editing Deutsche Mark (section)

===German reunification===
The Deutsche Mark played an important role in the [[German reunification|reunification]] of Germany. It was introduced as the official currency of [[German Democratic Republic|East Germany]] in July 1990, replacing the [[East German mark]] (''Mark der DDR''), in preparation for unification on 3 October 1990.<ref>{{Cite web |title=East German phantom banknotes – DW – 11/03/2014 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/east-germanys-phantom-banknotes/a-18001532 |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=dw.com |language=en}}</ref> East German marks were exchanged for Deutsche Marks at a rate of 1:1 for the first M&nbsp;4,000 and 2:1 for larger amounts. Before reunification, each citizen of East Germany coming to West Germany was given ''Begrüßungsgeld'' (welcome money),<ref>{{Cite web |last=mdr.de |title=1989: Begrüßungsgeld für DDR-Bürger {{!}} MDR.DE |url=https://www.mdr.de/geschichte/ddr/deutsche-einheit/mauerfall/westgeld-begruessungsgeld-100.html |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=www.mdr.de |language=de}}</ref> a per capita allowance of DM&nbsp;100 in cash. The government of Germany and the Bundesbank were in major disagreement over the exchange rate between the East German mark and the German mark.

France and the United Kingdom were opposed to German reunification, and attempted to influence the [[Soviet Union]] to stop it.<ref name="Times2009.9.11">{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/comment/register/article/thatcher-told-gorbachev-britain-did-not-want-german-reunification-vwjg8nq375j |title=Thatcher told Gorbachev Britain did not want German reunification|access-date=April 30, 2022 |date=September 11, 2009 |first=Michael|last= Binyon |publisher=Times |location=London }}</ref> However, in late 1989 France extracted German commitment to the [[Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union|Monetary Union]] in return for support for German reunification.<ref name="DW-world2009.11.08">{{cite web |url=http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4861759,00.html |title=Germany's neighbors try to redeem their 1989 negativity |author=Ben Knight |date=2009-11-08 |access-date=2009-11-09 |work=Deutsche Welle |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091111174630/http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4861759,00.html |archive-date=2009-11-11 }}</ref>