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Berlin and the Berlin-Marathon with 25.000 runners on september 30, 1990 - 3 days before the Reunification ©Sportmuseum Berlin – AIMS Marathon-Museum of Running
GERMANY – 3 October – Remembering Reunification – Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in London
On 3 October 1990 the German Democratic Republic acceded to the Federal Republic of Germany. Since then this day has been known as the Day of German Unity, and celebrated as a national holiday in Germany.
Read the messages by Federal President Gauck and Foreign Minister Westerwelle on the occasion, and brush up your knowledge of the events that led up to the peaceful reunification of East and West Germany.
Message from Federal President Joachim Gauck on the occasion of the Day of German Unity 2012
This year, for the first time, I am addressing you on the occasion of the Day of German Unity in my function as Federal President.
It is a day that reminds us Germans what happiness our recent history has brought.
Federal President Joachim Gauck Day of German Unity 2012
On 3 October 1990, something that Germany had been hoping for became a reality: with national reunification complete, our country had the chance to start afresh.
Federal Foreign Minister Westerwelle German Unity Day 2012
Stages along the way to German unity – a chronology
Rigged elections, an unprecedented wave of emigration and mass demonstrations led within a few months to the collapse of the power structures of the German Democratic Republic in 1989. Take a look at the most important stages.
Chronology of events
Reunification
With the Wall having fallen in 1989, it was to be another 11 months before Germany was reunited.
Germans in both German states welcomed it.
In the first (and last) free elections to East Germany's Volkskammer (parliament) on 18 March 1990 the East German electorate voted by an overwhelming majority for those parties that demanded swift accession to West Germany.
Source: Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in London
