| German Unity Day | |
|---|---|
 The flag of unity at midnight of 3 October 1990 in front of the Reichstag | |
| Official name | German: Tag der Deutschen Einheit |
| Observed by |  Germany |
| Significance | Commemorates the German reunification in 1990 |
| Date | 3 October |
| Next time | 3 October 2024 |
| Frequency | Annual |
German Unity Day (German: Tag der Deutschen Einheit, pronounced [ˈtaːk deːɐ̯ ˈdɔɪ̯t͡ʃn̩ ˈaɪ̯nhaɪ̯t] ⓘ) is the National Day of Germany, celebrated on 3 October as a public holiday.[1] It commemorates German reunification in 1990 when the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) joined the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany), so that for the first time since 1945 there existed a single German state. German Unity Day on 3 October has been the German National Holiday since 1990, when the reunification was formally completed.
An alternative choice to commemorate the reunification could have been the day the Berlin Wall came down: 9 November 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 racist as a national holiday[2][3] (see 9 November in German history). Therefore, 3 October 1990, the day of the formal reunification, was chosen instead. It replaced the "German Unity Day" on 17 June, the national holiday of the Federal Republic of Germany from 1954.
YouTube Encyclopedic
-
1/5Views:81 93422 2611 613 2792 0723 082 643
-
German unity: What's so special about 3rd October?
-
Learn German Holidays - German Unity Day
-
German Reunification Explained
-
German Unity Day (Tag der Deutschen Einheit) - The National Day in Germany│Pre-Intermediate German
-
German reunification – a short history | DW Documentary
Transcription
October 3rd is a public holiday in Germany: it is the Day of German Unity. Why is this even celebrated? Let me explain. After the Second World War, the map of Europe was redrawn. Germany, its government having collapsed and its cities in ruins, was divided up. Part of it went to the Soviet Union, and a bigger piece to Poland. The rest of Germany was to be divided into zones occupied by the Allies: the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and France. All except Berlin, which was declared an independent city divided into four sectors: Soviet, British, American and French. But the western Allies and the Soviet Union were ideological enemies, and so didn’t see eye to eye. A few years later, the Federal Republic of Germany was founded in the three western zones; just over four months after that, the Soviet zone was declared the German Democratic Republic. The border between the two Germanies formed part of the border between the capitalist West and the communist East. It was very difficult to cross this border known as the “Iron Curtain”, but there was still the matter of Berlin. The Democratic Republic — East Germany — claimed that Berlin belonged to their country, but the western Allies viewed Berlin as belonging to neither Germany. The problem for the eastern countries was that people were travelling to Berlin and flying out to the West. So in 1961, East Germany built fortifications around West Berlin, including a concrete wall dividing the two halves of the city. This lasted until 1989, when many communist countries started to reform, except for East Germany. Large numbers of East Germans travelled to Hungary, where they crossed the border, which was now open, into Austria, and claimed asylum in the West German embassy. And then in East Berlin, masses of people flooded the checkpoints, and the border guards had no choice but to let them through. And so the Berlin Wall fell; and with it, the whole of the Iron Curtain. So, 3rd October is about the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War? No, because this happened on 9th November, and the problem with that date is, it is already a very significant one in German history. In particular, 9th November 1938 was the night of the first major Nazi pogroms against the Jews, and so not really considered a very good day for a celebration. Instead, 3rd October 1990 is the date on which the Democratic Republic of Germany ceased to exist, and its territory, and that of the whole of the city of Berlin, was given over to the Federal Republic. Finally, Germany was politically reunified.
History
Germany has historically associated various dates with its nationhood and unity.
Imperial Germany
Before 1871, in the area where the single state of Germany now exists, different kingdoms and principalities existed. After the unification of Germany, and the Founding of the Empire 1871, there was still no common national holiday. The Sedantag was, however, celebrated every year on 2 September, recalling the decisive victory in the Franco-Prussian War on 2 September 1870.[4]
Before the Empire was founded in 1872, there were calls for a national holiday, and there were three suggestions. No decision was made. Until 1873, the Sedantag was moved to 18 January or the day of the Frankfurt Treaty (10 May 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 18 January 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."[5]
Despite this, the Day of the founding of the German Empire was still celebrated locally and nationally to some degree. These celebrations continued in the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany. Following World War II, East Germany completely abandoned the holiday, while West Germany still celebrated it on a smaller scale. West Germany did acknowledge the centennial of the German Empire as the founding of the German state in 1971. This holiday is still celebrated by some Germans.[according to whom?]
Weimar Republic
On 31 July 1919, the Weimar Constitution would be accepted in its form by the Weimar National Congress. In memorial of this "Hour of birth of democracy", 11 August was created as Constitution Day, because the President of Germany Friedrich Ebert, signed the constitution on this day.[4]
National Socialism
Shortly after the Nazis took power in 1933 (the so-called Machtergreifung), May Day (1 May) was established as a national holiday in the German Reich.[6] 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 Nazis banned trade unions on 2 May 1933 and occupied their buildings as offices for the Nazi Movement. On 1 March 1939, Hitler declared 9 November (the day of the failed Beer Hall Putsch in 1923) as the "Memorial Day for the movement" as the national holiday.
Federal Republic of Germany
From 1954 to 1990, 17 June was an official holiday in the Federal Republic of Germany to commemorate the East German uprising of 1953, even with the name "Day of the German Unity".[7] Since 1963, it was proclaimed by the President of the Federal Republic as "National Day of Memorial of the German People". However, by the mid-1960s as hope faded that the two Germanys would ever be re-united, this date became more of a holiday and day of recreation than a day to consider national unity.[8] In the year 1990, the "Day of German Unity" was celebrated twice, on this date and on 3 October.[9]
German Democratic Republic
In East Germany, the Founding Day in 1949 was celebrated on 7 October as Day of the Republic, until the 40th anniversary in 1989.[10]
Decision for GDR's unity with the Federal Republic
The motive for setting the date of 3 October as the possible Day of Unity was decided by the Volkskammer (GDR Congress) on the impending economical and political collapse of the GDR. The Helsinki Conference was set for 2 October, at which the foreign ministers would be informed of the results of the Two-plus-Four talks.
At the beginning of July, the governments of both German states decided on the schedule: elections in the GDR would be held on 14 October, and a common election for the entire country on 2 December.
The decision on the date was finally made on 22 August by the GDR's Minister-President, Lothar de Maizière, at a special session of the Volkskammer, which began at 9 p.m. After a heated debate, the President of the Volkskammer, Sabine Bergmann-Pohl, announced the results at 2:30 a.m. on 23 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 3 October 1990. In the matter Nr. 201 there have been 363 votes. There were no invalid votes. 294 deputies have voted 'yes.' (Strong applause from CDU/DA, DSU, FDP, partly SPD and the deputies standing up in their seats.) 62 deputies have voted 'no', and 7 people abstained. This is a historic 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 everybody that this result was made possible by a consensus across party lines.
Gregor Gysi, Chairman of the SED-PDS, was visibly moved and made a personal statement: "Madame President! The Parliament has no more and no less decided on the downfall of the German Democratic Republic as of 3 October 1990".[11] (Jubilant cheers from the CDU/DA, DSU and SPD.)
Attempt to change the date of Unity Day
On 3 November 2004, the Federal Chancellor, Gerhard Schröder, suggested that the "Day of the German Unity" be celebrated on a Sunday, for economic reasons. Instead of 3 October, 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 Bundestag, Wolfgang Thierse. The demand worried a part of the population because of discontent for increased working hours would be seen as a provocation and devaluing the national holiday. In addition, fixing the Unity Day on the first Sunday of October would have meant that it would sometimes fall on 7 October, which happens to have been the national day of East Germany; this date would thus have been seen as commemorating the division of Germany rather than the reunification. The idea was dropped after a short but angry debate.[12]
Celebrations
The Day of German Unity is celebrated each year with a ceremonial act and a citizen's festival (Bürgerfest).
The celebrations are hosted by a major city, usually the state capital, in the German state presiding over the Bundesrat in the respective year (a sequence determined by the Königstein Agreement[13]). After Bonn in 2011, Frankfurt am Main was the second non-state capital to host the celebrations in 2015; however, both cities are significant in German political history (Bonn as former capital of West Germany and Frankfurt as the place of the Frankfurt Parliament of 1848–49).
|
|
In addition, various celebrations are held in the federal capital Berlin, mainly based on the Straße des 17. Juni and around the Brandenburg Gate. State capitals and also other cities often have additional festivities. 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. The celebrations in the host city always includes a festival and fireworks show.
Zipfelbund: compass communities
At the 1999 Day of German Unity celebration in Wiesbaden the Zipfelbund (Compass Confederation) was formalised. The Zipfelbund are the four communities at the cardinal compass points[14] of Germany: North – List on the island of Sylt, West – Selfkant, South – Oberstdorf and East – Görlitz. Together, they always participate in the respective annual celebration to represent the modern borders of Germany.
| Direction | Community | State | Coordinates | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North | List auf Sylt | Schleswig-Holstein | 55°1′N 8°26′E / 55.017°N 8.433°E | 2,462 |
| West | Selfkant | North Rhine-Westphalia | 51°1′N 5°55′E / 51.017°N 5.917°E | 10,263 |
| East | Görlitz | Saxony | 51°9′N 14°59′E / 51.150°N 14.983°E | 56,461 |
| South | Oberstdorf | Bavaria | 47°25′N 10°17′E / 47.417°N 10.283°E | 9,974 |
See also
References
- ^ www.buzer.de – Article 3 of the Treaty of German reunification ("Einigungsvertrag")
- ^ Kosmidou, Eleftheria Rania (2012). European Civil War Films: Memory, Conflict, and Nostalgia. pp. 9–10. ISBN 1136250646
- ^ Deutsche Welle (dw.de) (9.11.2004). Schicksalstag der Deutschen.
- ^ a b Fritz Schellack: Nationalfeiertage in Deutschland 1871 bis 1945. Peter Lang, Frankfurt am Main u. a. 1990, ISBN 3-631-42524-4 (zugl. Dissertation, Universität Mainz 1989)
- ^ Karl Erich Born: Preußen im deutschen Kaiserreich 1871–1918. Führungsmacht des Reiches und Aufgehen im Reich. In: Wolfgang Neugebauer (Hrsg.): Handbuch der preussischen Geschichte. Bd. III: Vom Kaiserreich zum 20. Jahrhundert und Große Themen der Geschichte Preußens. De Gruyter, Berlin 2000, ISBN 3-11-014092-6, S. 37
- ^ "www.verfassungen.de – German holidays act from 27 February 1937 ("Gesetz über die Feiertage")". Archived from the original on 6 August 2014. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
- ^ www.17juli1953.de – Law paragraph establishing July 3rd, 1953, as the "Day of German Unity" in West Germany.
- ^ Gunkel, Christoph (3 October 2015). "Der 17. Juni: Tag der deutschen Zwietracht - SPIEGEL ONLINE - einestages". Spiegel.
- ^ Federal Ministry of the Interior – Presidential proclamation about July 3rd.
- ^ "www.verfassungen.de – East German law on introducing the holidays "Day of Liberation" and "Day of the Republic" (1950) ("Gesetz über die Einführung der Feiertage "Tag der Befreiung" und "Tag der Republik"")". Archived from the original on 2 October 2008. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
- ^ "Die Nacht, in der der Beitritt beschlossen wurde". Bundestag.
Sichtlich bewegt tritt Gysi ans Rednerpult, um eine persönliche Erklärung abzugeben: "Frau Präsidentin! Das Parlament hat soeben nicht mehr und nicht weniger als den Untergang der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik zum 3. Oktober 1990 beschlossen", so der PDS-Chef.
- ^ Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung – October 3rd stays holiday – Schröder: "Dishonest debate" ("3. Oktober bleibt Feiertag – Schröder: „Verlogene Debatte“).
- ^ www.wahlrecht.de – Wahl des Bundesratspräsidenten & Königsteiner Vereinbarung
- ^ "Impressum (Zipfelbund)".
External links
- Tag der Deutschen Einheit 2014 Niedersächsische Staatskanzlei
- Tag der Deutschen Einheit 2011 Bonn (in German)
- Chronik der Mauer chronik-der-mauer.de 1990 (in German)
- Video: Volkskammerbeschluss 23. August 1990 zum Beitritt der DDR zur Bundesrepublik Deutsches Rundfunkarchiv 1989 (in German)
- German Embassy Publication, Infocus:German Unity Day
| Authority control databases: National |
|---|
This page was last edited on 30 March 2024, at 03:40