The papers collected in this highly important volume were read at the Symposium held in June of 1989. The papers dealing with literature and political and sociological matters have been left virtually unchanged, as they document this crucial time in the history of the GDR. The social science articles, on the other hand, have been added to or modified in perspective to reflect the tumultuous changes taking place in the GDR during that spring and summer. Co-published with the International Symposium on the German Democratic Republic.