Helmut Kohl in Dresden (December 19, 1989) On December 19, 1989, Federal Chancellor Helmut Kohl visited the city of Dresden to meet with Prime Minister Hans Modrow. During his visit, Kohl delivered a speech on Dresden’s Altmarkt [Old Market Square], where he was enthusiastically greeted by tens of thousands of East German citizens, who voiced their hope for a speedy reunification with shouts of “Helmut, Helmut.” At the same time, the SED-PDS was holding a rally in East Berlin. There, party chairman Gregor Gysi advocated the independence of the German Democratic Republic.