Tag der Deutschen Einheit (Day of German Unity)
- Tyler Elwood
- Oct 1, 2017
- 2 min read
Following World War II, the area that was Germany was divided into four military sectors controlled by France, the United Kingdom, the United States and the Soviet Union.
It commemorates the anniversary of German reunification in 1990, when the goal of a united Germany that originated in the middle of the 19th century, was fulfilled again. Therefore, the name addresses neither the re-union nor the union, but the unity of Germany. The Day of German Unity on 3 October has been the German national holiday since 1990, when the reunification was formally completed. The Day of German Unity is celebrated each year with a ceremonial act and a Bürgerfest (citizen's' festival).
The unity of Germany refers to the reunion of West and East, there were actually 4 sectors, but the wall divided West and East. The wall was actually taken down on 9/10 nov 1989, just to make clear, that this is the official unity day and not the break down of the wall. 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 inappropriate as a national holiday. Therefore, 3 October 1990, the day of the formal reunification, was chosen instead and replaced the "Day of German Unity."
Germany's flag is displayed, particularly on public buildings, on German Unity Day. This flag is three units high and five units wide and is divided horizontally into thirds. The top third is jet black, the middle third traffic red and the bottom third is gold.
Together these colors represent the freedom of Germany as a whole and each of its people. In the past, the colors represented: the darkness of servitude (black); bloody conflict (red); and the light of freedom (gold).
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