October 3 - Day of German Unity

The Day of German Unity, Germany’s national holiday, marks the day in 1990 on which the German Democratic Republic (East) acceded to the Federal Republic of Germany. In 2009, Germany is also celebrating two significant anniversaries, the 60th anniversary of the Basic Law and the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. More than remembering the wall, fences and armed guards that separated East from West during the Cold War, the Day of German Unity is a time to celebrate the peaceful unification and a time to renew the commitment to using freedom to help shape our world.

Federal President Horst Köhler

Köhler: Using Freedom to Help Shape Our World

"The freedom which we Germans gained with the Basic Law and the fall of the Berlin Wall is precious," Federal President Köhler states in his message on the Day of German Unity. "We want to use it as part of the international community to help shape our one world and to solve its problems."

Federal President's Message

Reunification

Following the peaceful overthrow of the East German regime in 1989, in the summer of 1990 negotiations about the reunification treaty commenced in Berlin. Eventually, on October 3, 1990, East Germany acceded to the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Reunification

Chancellor Bush and President Bush (c) bpa/Lothar Schaack

Historic Phone Call

On the afternoon of October 3, 1990, after a night of joyous celebrating united Germany, Chancellor Helmut Kohl received a phone call from his friend and fellow statesman President George H. W. Bush in Washington.

Kohl Bush

Trabi painted on Berlin Wall (c) dpa/DB Kathrin Brunnhofer

Wall Stories by Germany.info Readers

On the occasion of the anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall we asked our readers, "where were you when the wall came down?" Read what Germany.info readers told us about their personal and moving memories of that historic event.

Wall Stories 2006

Day of German Unity

Revelers at the Brandenburg Gate on the first Day of German Unity in 1990 © picture-alliance/ZB

Freedom Without Walls - 20 Years Fall of the Wall

Freedom Without Walls © German Embassy Washington

The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 marked the beginning of a new era in history. It was the end of the cold war, the beginning of a fully united Europe and proof that peaceful change is possible, even in the moments when it seems most unlikely. 

Freedom Without Walls

"Freedom Without Walls" — Day of German Unity Reception 2009 (October 2009)

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(© Germany.info; by Stephan Bachenheimer)

For the 2009 celebration of the Day of German Unity, the German Embassy brought the fall of the Berlin Wall to Washington, DC. (October 2009)