East Germany’s surprisingly open travel treaties
One country that benefited from this travel privilege was the Republic of Lebanon, a small Mediterranean country that would find itself embroiled in a 15-year civil war from 1975 to 1990. In hindsight, the GDR was very active in Lebanon during those years. In 1973, the GDR authorities dispatched Mr. Bruno Sedlaczek, deputy head of the third non-European department (Near and the Middle East), ambassador to Lebanon (1973 to 1977).East Germany’s Travel Treaties
In the Lebanese passport shown here, it is interesting to note that a travel visa was needed before departure to visit Czechoslovakia, but nothing was required to enter the GDR. Instead, an East German visa stamp was given instantly when entering East Berlin.
It is estimated that Lebanon’s civil war led to roughly one million refugees fleeing the country. Though it was nearly impossible to escape to West Germany, a particular loophole facilitated this. With the treaty signed between Lebanon and East Germany regarding visa-free travel, it was very easy for someone fleeing the conflict to purchase a relatively inexpensive plane ticket with Interflug. Once in East Berlin, this person could go directly from Schönefeld Airport to a checkpoint leading into West Berlin. In West Berlin, an asylum application was usually easily granted. Thanks to the various GDR travel treaties signed with dozens of nations, millions of men and women could flee multiple conflict zones (Lebanon, Somalia, South Yemen, Nigeria, etc.) and find new homes in West Germany and Scandinavia.
Another interesting Cold War article from my friend Mat.
