[Vigilanteman]

The party favoring speedy reunification swept elections in the spring of 1990 and the reunification was blessed by both Germanys and the four occupying Allied Powers.

Crimea had the elections, Russia won. But Ukraine didn't sign-off. This difference will, of course, be lost on the Russians.

[Bogey78O]

Russia decided to stop pretending the entire USSR was Russian imperialist occupation of sovereign nations apparently.

[wolf78]

The party favoring speedy reunification swept elections in the spring of 1990 and the reunification was blessed by both Germanys and the four occupying Allied Powers.

Crimea had the elections, Russia won. But Ukraine didn't sign-off. This difference will, of course, be lost on the Russians.

Actually that's not the whole difference. The whole crimea referendum was a total farce. Instead of having democratic campaigning and a transparent voting process monitored by a free press, you had violence and intimidation by Russian thugs and a result typical for communist voter fraud.

I'm not saying that had there been a democratic process, Crimea would never have voted to join Russia. They might have, with a result in the mid-50s. But not with 90% or so. I mean, even the paid thugs today boast about how well their coup worked.

Whereas elections in the GDR were internationally monitored and followed democratic standards. Heck, even the Commies who ran the country into the ground were allowed to take part.