In 1989, which Eastern Bloc country was the first to open its borders to the West?

The UK

Would that be East Germany?

Hungary opened the Austrian-Hungarian border in 1989. Does that count?

With the Wall coming down in Germany (and so much going on ) It was tempting to say E.Germany
Here is the evidence off site
www.dailysoft.com/berlinwall/

quote:

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June 12, 1987 President Ronald Reagan visits Berlin and urges Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall.
September 10, 1989 Hungarian government opens border for East German refugees
November 9, 1989 Berlin Wall is opened
December 22, 1989 Brandenburg Gate is opened
October 3, 1990 Germany is reunited

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[This message was edited by bedstor on 09-11-02 at 08:42 AM.]

Yes, yes. Well done, babs...

September 10, 1989
Hungary opens border with Austria

On May 3, 1989, Hungarian soldiers removed the barbed wire fence on the border with Austria. The Hungarian government called the fence "outdated" and superfluous, given the existence of Hungary's new (1988) liberal passport law. The Hungarian government publicly stated that all sections of the fence would be removed by the end of 1990.

East Germans touring Hungary in the summer of 1989 took advantage of the newly opened border to flee to Austria. The Hungarian Border Guard interfered only sporadically with the flight, and eventually the Hungarian government allowed the East Germans to leave through Hungarian border checkpoints. In September 1989, the government announced that it would allow all the East Germans in the country wishing to emigrate to the West to leave Hungary. By the beginning of October, more than 35,000 had left the country to go to West Germany. - Cold War Files

It appears that Babs was most certainly right. Note the reference to Hungary's new (1988) liberal passport law. Hungary opened its border before Reagan even went to Germany.