 Little of the structural economic and financial problems identified by the "Schürer-Papier" were widely known until late 1989 (although in 1988–89 the GDR's creditworthiness was declining slightly).At this time, the government, aware of the impending problems from the October 1989 Schürer-Papier, asked the West German government for new billion-Deutschmark loans.Although the financial problems probably played no role in the opening of the borders on November 9, opening the borders eliminated any West German interest in further supporting the East German state, as West Germany immediately began to work towards a reunification.