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| 1969, March 5 |
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| The Socialist Party replaced the Christian Democratic Party as the dominant party for the first time since World War II. GUSTAV HEINEMANN (Social Democrat) was elected president of the Federal Republic by the Bundestag, which was meeting in West Berlin despite protests and threats and obstructions to travel on the part of East German and Soviet authorities, who steadfastly maintained that West Berlin was not a part of the Federal Republic. | 1 |
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| Sept. 28 |
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| In the national elections, the Social Democrats registered substantial gains (42.7 percent of the total votes cast). | 2 |
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| Oct. 21 |
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| Foreign Minister Willy Brandt (Social Democrat) succeeded in arranging a coalition with the Free Democrats and became chancellor in succession to Kurt Kiesinger. The largest party, the Christian Democrats, was out of the office for the first time since the war. | 3 |
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| Oct. 24 |
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| German mark revalued upward by 8.5 percent, a step that had been resisted by the Kiesinger government. | 4 |
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| Oct. 28 |
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| The new chancellor outlined an extensive program of domestic reforms and spoke at length on the new government's objectives in foreign policy. For the first time, a chancellor recognized that two German states actually existed, even though West Germany did not and would not officially recognize the East German state. Brandt indicated his readiness to discuss ways to improve relations between East and West Germany, and also indicated his intention to push on with the West German Ostpolitik, while safeguarding West Germany's position in NATO. | 5 |
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| Nov |
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| In notes to Moscow and Warsaw, the West German government suggested the initiation of discussions looking toward an agreement on major areas of dispute including border questions. The Soviet government responded at once, and a start was made before the end of the year. | 6 |
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| Nov. 28 |
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| West Germany signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. | 7 |
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| Dec |
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| Walter Ulbricht, the East German Communist Party leader, sent proposals to Bonn for improving relations. Discussions were to begin soon. | 8 |
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| Dec. 16 |
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| The United States, Britain, and France, in identical notes to Moscow, proposed talks reviewing the status of West Berlin, with the objective of improving and stabilizing the situation in the disputed city. | 9 |
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