Freedom of travel for East German pensioners

East German pensioners are permitted to visit their West German relatives

On 9 September 1964, the Council of Ministers of the DDR decided to allow East German pensioners to visit relatives in the Federal Republic for up to four weeks of every year. Anyone wishing to travel was required to submit an application together with an invitation from West German relatives before being permitted to embark on their journey. Those without family in the West did not have this option. It would take another 20 years before other pensioners acquired the same freedoms.

It is not entirely clear why the DDR granted pensioners freedom to travel in this way. Whilst some argue that the DDR wanted to get rid of its pensioners in order to save on pensions, it is unlikely that people approaching old age would wish to leave their children behind in the East. As East German pensions were low and did not increase in line with earnings, the savings would have been minimal. Many took advantage of the new opportunity and almost a quarter of a million East German pensioners travelled to West Berlin within the first two months of the reform taking effect.