Today, Germany celebrates German Unity Day, a day commemorating the reunification of the country in 1990. Chancellor Olaf Scholz commented that German unity is not complete even after 34 years, but they have come a long way since the initial division between East and West Germany. He emphasized that the challenge of unifying two societies that were divided for four decades in various aspects was unique to Germany, making the progress towards unity significant.
Following the end of World War II, Germany was divided between East and West in 1949 due to tensions between the Western powers and the Soviet Union. The construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961 solidified the separation between the two parts of the country, leading to a divided population between the Federal Republic of Germany in the West and the German Democratic Republic in the East. After international efforts and a peaceful revolution in East Germany, the Berlin Wall was brought down on November 9, 1989.
The Treaty of German Reunification came into effect almost a year later on September 29, 1990, declaring October 3 as German Unity Day and a national holiday. Originally, there was discussion of making November 9, the day of the fall of the Berlin wall, a national holiday. However, this idea was rejected due to the association of that date in 1938 with Kristallnacht, the violent attacks against Jews in Germany. The actual reunification of Germany was completed on the night of October 2-3, 1990, when the new states of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Brandenburg, Berlin, Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony, and Thuringia were united with the Federal Republic of Germany.
Chancellor Scholz mentioned at the Unity Day ceremony that while unity in Germany is progressing, it is still not perfect. He highlighted the different ways in which East and West Germany were organized economically, politically, culturally, and mentally, making the challenge of unification unique. Despite the struggles, he acknowledged the significant progress made in bringing together two societies that were separated for decades, emphasizing that unity is a continuous process.
The anniversary of German Unity Day serves as a reminder of the long journey towards reunification that Germany has undertaken since the end of World War II. The celebrations on October 3 honor the efforts made to overcome the divisions between East and West Germany and acknowledge the challenges faced in unifying the country. Chancellor Scholz’s comments reflect the ongoing commitment to achieving unity in Germany despite the remaining obstacles, recognizing the achievements made so far in the process of reunification.
