German Unity Day

German Unity Day
Official name	The Day of German Unity
Observed by	Germany
Type	National
Significance	Commemorates German reunification in 1990
Date	3 October

The Day of German Unity (German: Tag der Deutschen Einheit) is the national day of Germany, celebrated on 3 October as a public holiday. It commemorates the anniversary of German reunification in 1990, when the goal of a unity of Germany that originated in the middle of the 19th century, was fulfilled. Therefore, the name addresses neither the re-union or union but the unity of Germany. The Day of German Unity on October 3rd has been a German national holiday since the reunification in 1990, when the German reunification was brought out in full force. The 3rd of October is a legal holiday of the Federal Republic of Germany.

The Day of German Unity is at the same time an anniversary for the re-founding of the five states Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringen.

An alternative choice to commemorate the reunification could have been the day the Berlin Wall came down—November 9, 1989, which coincided with the anniversary of the proclamation of the German Republic in 1918 and the defeat of Hitler's first coup in 1923. However, 9 November was also the anniversary of the first large-scale Nazi-led pogroms against Jews in 1938 (Kristallnacht), so the day was considered inappropriate as a national holiday. Therefore, 3 October 1990, the day of formal reunification, was chosen instead.

History of the National Holiday in Germany

Before 1919

Before 1871, in the area where a single state of Germany now exists, different kingdoms and prinicipalities existed. After the Unification of Germany, in the Empire Unification of 1870 (Letter of the Emperor) and the Founding of the Empire 1871, there was still no common national holiday. The Sedantag was, however, celebrated every year on the 2nd of September, which recalls the decisive victory in the German-French War on 2nd September 1870.

After the founding of the Empire in 1871, there were calls for a national holiday, and there were three suggestions. No decision was made. Until 1873, the Sedantag was moved to January 18th or Day of the Frankfurt Treaty (May 10, 1871). The Sedantag would soon also be celebrated at the universities and in many German cities. It never occurred to them to think about "Empire Parade" or "Emperor's Birthday. Some Culture Ministers of the states, especially in Prussia, decided, that the Sedantag would be an official festival in schools. Upon many suggestions, the date of the Emperor's proclamation on January 18th would be established as day of remembrance. Emperor Wilhelm I declined this: "This was also the day of the first Prussian coronation of the king, which should not fall into the shadow of a united German holiday."

The Rhineland-Westphalian state began a "typical German" festival, and started the tradition on the eve of September 2nd with the ringing of bells, fireworks and patriotic songs for a peace festival.

Weimarer Republic

On July 31, 1919, the Weimarer Constitution would be accepted in its form by the Weimarer National Congress. In memorial of this "Hour of birth of democracy", the 11th August was created as Constitution Day, because the President of the Empire, Friedrich Ebert, signed the constitution on this day.

Time of the National Socialism

Shortly after the National Socialists took power in 1933, they established May Day (May 1st) as a national holiday in the German Empire. It was already celebrated as a "Day of the Labor Movement" since 1890, and also was part of the tradition for the May dance commemorating the Walpurgis Night. Immediately after the establishment of the holiday in 1933, the National Socialists banned trade unions on May 2nd, 1933 and occupied their buildings as offices for the National Socialist Movement. On March 1, 1939, Hitler declared November 9th as the "Memorial Day for the movement" as the national holiday.

Federal Republic of Germany

From 1954 to 1990, the 17th of June was an official holiday in West Germany to commemorate the Uprising of 1953 in East Germany, even with the name "Day of the German Unity". Since 1963, it was proclaimed by the President of the Federal Republic as "National Day of Memorial of the German People." Therefore, in the year 1990, the "Day of German Unity" was celebrated twice.

German Democratic Republic

In East Germany, the Founding Day in 1949 would be celebrated on 7th of October as Day of the Republic, until the 40th anniversary in 1989.

Decision for GDR's unity with the Federal Republic

The motive for the decision of setting the date on the 3rd of October as possible Day of the Unity was decided by the Volkskammer (GDR Congress) upon the impeding economical and political collapse of the GDR. The Helsinki Conference was set for October 2nd, where the foreign ministers would be informed about the results in the Two-plus-Four Talk.

In the beginning of July, the government of the both German states decided on the schedule, that the elections would be held on October 14th for the GDR, and a common election for the entire country on 2nd of December.

The decision of the date was finally made on the 22nd of August from the GDR's Minister President, de Maiziere through a special session at the Volkskammer, which began at 9 pm. After a heated debate, the President of the Volkskammer, Sabine Bergmann-Pohl, revealed the results at 2:30 am on 23rd of August:

"The Volkskammer decides on the accession of the GDR to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Germany according to Article 23 of the Basic Laws effective as of October 3, 1990. In the matter Nr. 201 there have been 363 votes. There were no invalid votes. 294 deputies have voted 'yes.' (Strong applauds from CDU/DA, DSU, FDP, partly SPD and the deputies standing up on place.)

"62 deputies have voted 'no,' and 7 people abstained. This is a historical event. Ladies and Gentlemen, I believe, that we have not made an easy decision, but today, we have acted within our responsibilities of the voting rights of the citizens of the GDR. I thank all, that this result was made possible by a consensus across party lines.

The SED-PDS Chairman Gregor Gysi made a sad declaration: "The Parliament has more or less decided on the downfall of the German Democratic Republic on 3 October 1990. (jubilant cheers from the CDU/DA, DSU and SPD)."

Attempt to change the date of national holiday

On November 3, 2004, the Federal Chancellor, Gerhard Schröder, suggested that the "Day of the German Unity" be celebrated on a Sunday, for economic reasons. Instead of October 3rd, the National Reunification should be celebrated on the first Sunday of October. This suggestion received a lot of criticism from many sides, amongst them from Federal President Horst Köhler as well as the President of the Federal Diet Wolfgang Thierse. The demand worried a part of the population because of discontent for an increased working hours would be seen as a provocation and devaluing the national holiday. The idea was dropped after a short, but heavy debate.

Celebrations

The Day of German Unity is celebrated each year with a ceremonial act and a citizens' festival (Bürgerfest).

The celebrations are hosted habitually in the state capital of the German state presiding over the Bundesrat in the respective year:

1990 in Berlin, capital of Germany 1991 in Hamburg, Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg 1992 in Schwerin, state capital of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 1993 in Saarbrücken, state capital of Saarland 1994 in Bremen, state capital of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen 1995 in Düsseldorf, state capital of North Rhine-Westphalia 1996 in Munich, state capital of Bavaria 1997 in Stuttgart, state capital of Baden-Württemberg 1998 in Hannover, state capital of Lower Saxony 1999 in Wiesbaden, state capital of Hesse 2000 in Dresden, state capital of Saxony

2001 in Mainz, state capital of Rhineland-Palatinate 2002 in Berlin, capital of Germany 2003 in Magdeburg, state capital of Saxony-Anhalt 2004 in Erfurt, state capital of Thuringia 2005 in Potsdam, state capital of Brandenburg 2006 in Kiel, state capital of Schleswig-Holstein 2007 in Schwerin, state capital of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 2008 in Hamburg, Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg[1] 2009 in Saarbrücken, state capital of Saarland 2010 in Bremen, state capital of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen 2011 in Bonn, former capital of West Germany, instead of the state capital of North Rhine-Westphalia, Düsseldorf, as an exception to the habitual practice.

In addition, various celebrations are held in the federal capital Berlin, mainly based on the Straße des 17. Juni and around the Brandenburg Gate. Furthermore, the Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, which traditionally runs until the first Sunday in October, now runs until 3 October if the Sunday in question falls on the first or second day of October.

Unlike most other countries, flags on private houses, military parades and fireworks are not common on this day in Germany.

External links

• German Embassy Publication, Infocus:German Unity Day
• Website of the state organizing Unity Day (changes annually, often in German only)
• German Reunification special coverage from Deutsche Welle, Germany's international broadcaster

References

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