Exodul tăcut. Cum fugeau românii din România lui Ceaușescu în ultimii ani ai dictaturii în Republica Federală Germania. Documente ale Consiliului Național pentru Studierea Arhivelor Securității

In the late 1980s, Romania experienced a significant wave of emigration, particularly to West Germany, as citizens sought to escape the oppressive regime of Nicolae Ceaușescu. Official documents reveal that between 1987 and 1989, over 47,000 new emigration requests were filed, with the regime approving around 35,000 departures. Many individuals resorted to illegal methods, such as overstaying travel visas or crossing borders clandestinely, with thousands successfully fleeing. The data highlights a demographic crisis, as skilled workers, teachers, and medical professionals left the country, exacerbating existing social and economic issues. Ethnic Germans were the most prominent group among emigrants, while Romanians faced greater challenges in obtaining exit approvals. By September 1989, nearly 90,000 emigration requests were pending, reflecting the desperation of many to leave Romania before the revolution.