The church's official statement Wednesday explaining the action pointed out that injustices and violations of human rights under the Honecker regime were often accepted in silence by non-Communists.

"East Germany collapsed because Gorbachev chose to do what none of his predecessors would ever have done, namely, keep those troops in their barracks rather than mobilize them to save the Honecker regime."

Yes, and the Honecker regime will collapse.

In East Germany, the Berlin wall is a memory, as is the Honecker regime, but the Communist Party remains in power, probably for a long time to come.

There, under the protective umbrella of the Honecker regime, Kaas had excelled at the intimidation and torture that was the mainstay of the Stasi method.

In spite of détente, the Honecker regime remained committed to Soviet-style socialism and continued a strict policy toward dissidents.

They had begun the marathon conference listening to a long denunciation by Mr. Gysi of abuses of power, personal aggrandisement and corruption under the Honecker regime.

Explicitly in many cases and implicitly in some, the delegates analyzed the factors that led up to the collapse of the Honecker regime.

This second society, operating in conjunction with and against the official Communist society, created the connections that came to life in the mass demonstrations against the Honecker regime in early October.

But the Honecker regime, still hoping that perestroika collapses before it does, grimly clamps down.