BMI National days of remembrance and public holidays
Day of German Unity
The successful popular uprising in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) and Berlin (East) in the fall of 1989 - the "peaceful revolution" - laid the foundation for the restoration of the national unity of Germany. Against the background of impetus for reform from the Soviet Union (Gorbachev's policy of "glasnost", "perestroika" and "new thinking") and its rejection by the leadership of the Socialist Unity Party (SED) in the GDR, the exodus of GDR citizens and the mass protests that had begun late in the summer of 1989 intensified. In October/November, the demonstrations led to the resignation of the SED Politburo and the replacement of the Stoph government.
On 9 November 1989 the Berlin Wall fell. In free and secret elections held on 18 March 1990, the people of the GDR elected a new People's Chamber (parliament), which on 23 August 1990 voted in favour of the accession of the GDR to the Federal Republic of Germany in accordance with Article 23 of the Basic Law (old version). This step had been preceded by the establishment of a Monetary, Economic and Social Union as of 1 July 1990 and the conclusion of the negotiations on the Treaty between the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic on the Establishment of German Unity (Unification Treaty).
Internationally, reunification became possible because the German policy was supported by the allies - especially by the government of the United States of America under President George H. W. Bush. On 12 September 1990 the foreign ministers of the two German governments, the USA, the USSR, France and the United Kingdom signed the "Two-plus-Four Treaty" in Moscow, under which the four powers terminated their rights and responsibilities with respect to Berlin and Germany as a whole.
Under the Unification Treaty it was agreed that the GDR would accede to the territory of application of the Basic Law with effect from 3 October 1990; at the same time, pursuant to Chapter 1, Article 2, paragraph (2) of the Treaty, this day was designated a public holiday known as the Day of German Unity. It thus replaced 17 June as the national holiday of the Germans.
At midnight on 3 October 1990 the flag of German unification was hoisted for the first time on Platz der Republik in front of the Reichstag building. At first a makeshift wooden flagpole was used, which was replaced by a metal pole in Dezember 1990 whose base holds a bronze plaque with the inscription "Deutsche Einheit 3. Oktober 1990" (German unification, 3. October 1990).
In keeping with the federal principle, it was agreed between the heads of government of the Länder and the Federation that the festivities on 3 October would be organised each year by the given Land holding the presidency of the Bundesrat (the representative body of the Länder) at that time. Through this arrangement, each Land was to be afforded the opportunity to organise a national celebration from its own perspective and on its own overall responsibility.
The Federal Government's Protocol Office at the Federal Ministry of the Interior coordinates the arrangements between the constitutional bodies of the Federation and represents the interests of the Federation vis-à-vis the given Land organising the celebration.
The official state ceremony, which is jointly hosted by the Bundesrat and an additional constitutional body of the Federation, is attended not only by representatives of the political sector and society but also by delegations of citizens; within the framework of a popular festival, moreover, the general population is involved in the celebration as well.
On the Day of German Unity, flags are displayed throughout the country at the highest federal authorities and the offices under their purview as well as at the public-law corporations, institutions and foundations under the supervision of federal authorities (Federal Flag Code).
On 9 November 1989 the Berlin Wall fell. In free and secret elections held on 18 March 1990, the people of the GDR elected a new People's Chamber (parliament), which on 23 August 1990 voted in favour of the accession of the GDR to the Federal Republic of Germany in accordance with Article 23 of the Basic Law (old version). This step had been preceded by the establishment of a Monetary, Economic and Social Union as of 1 July 1990 and the conclusion of the negotiations on the Treaty between the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic on the Establishment of German Unity (Unification Treaty).
Internationally, reunification became possible because the German policy was supported by the allies - especially by the government of the United States of America under President George H. W. Bush. On 12 September 1990 the foreign ministers of the two German governments, the USA, the USSR, France and the United Kingdom signed the "Two-plus-Four Treaty" in Moscow, under which the four powers terminated their rights and responsibilities with respect to Berlin and Germany as a whole.
Under the Unification Treaty it was agreed that the GDR would accede to the territory of application of the Basic Law with effect from 3 October 1990; at the same time, pursuant to Chapter 1, Article 2, paragraph (2) of the Treaty, this day was designated a public holiday known as the Day of German Unity. It thus replaced 17 June as the national holiday of the Germans.
At midnight on 3 October 1990 the flag of German unification was hoisted for the first time on Platz der Republik in front of the Reichstag building. At first a makeshift wooden flagpole was used, which was replaced by a metal pole in Dezember 1990 whose base holds a bronze plaque with the inscription "Deutsche Einheit 3. Oktober 1990" (German unification, 3. October 1990).
In keeping with the federal principle, it was agreed between the heads of government of the Länder and the Federation that the festivities on 3 October would be organised each year by the given Land holding the presidency of the Bundesrat (the representative body of the Länder) at that time. Through this arrangement, each Land was to be afforded the opportunity to organise a national celebration from its own perspective and on its own overall responsibility.
The Federal Government's Protocol Office at the Federal Ministry of the Interior coordinates the arrangements between the constitutional bodies of the Federation and represents the interests of the Federation vis-à-vis the given Land organising the celebration.
The official state ceremony, which is jointly hosted by the Bundesrat and an additional constitutional body of the Federation, is attended not only by representatives of the political sector and society but also by delegations of citizens; within the framework of a popular festival, moreover, the general population is involved in the celebration as well.
On the Day of German Unity, flags are displayed throughout the country at the highest federal authorities and the offices under their purview as well as at the public-law corporations, institutions and foundations under the supervision of federal authorities (Federal Flag Code).
