Hundreds of thousands celebrate German Unity Day in Bremen

In bright sunshine and summery temperatures, hundreds of thousands celebrated German Unity Day in Bremen. They were exuberantly drifting from one activity to the next in the city center and along the banks of the Weser: some tried out soapbox racing, some shimmied up a climbing wall several meters high, others found out about the work of the Federal Council. From a Ferris wheel, guests had the opportunity to observe the colorful hustle and bustle from above.

The official part of the celebrations began with an ecumenical service in the cathedral and a ceremony in the Glocke concert hall with around 1,000 guests of honor from politics, the judiciary and society. “The challenges of the present must never displace this moment of happiness in German history,” said Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the ceremony. "We must never let this moment be forgotten. To forget would be treason."

The festival under the motto “Many strengths - one country” is taking place this year in Bremen because the smallest federal state holds the presidency of the Federal Council. Germany's political leaders came to the celebration - in addition to the Federal President, Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), Bundestag President Julia Klöckner (CDU), several ministers, almost all heads of government of the federal states and judges of the Federal Constitutional Court.

Federal President: “Have the courage to renew!”

On the way from the cathedral to the bell, the political celebrities appeared close to the citizens - under heavy police security. Political leaders shook hands with onlookers, took photos and chatted with them. Klöckner took citizens' smartphones in a good mood and took numerous selfies with them and Merz.

In his ceremonial speech, the Federal President warned of extremist forces that are threatening freedom, democracy and unity. He urged people to defend democracy. "I thought everyone had learned the lesson of history," he said. Now he has to see how right-wing extremists want to erase the memory of the victims of the Holocaust. Politicians must ask themselves without mercy what was missed that caused so many people to turn away and extremists to find such a response.

At the same time, the head of state tried to encourage people. There have been many crises in the past decades that have been resolved. The key is political will to leave established routines. “Have the courage to renew!” he said in the direction of politics. It is important to act decisively - even in the face of headwinds. "Our Germany is a good country. Let's create an even better one!", he said at the end of his powerful speech, for which he received long applause.

Festival with around 800 events and well-known bands

Unity will be celebrated with a large community festival until Sunday, at which more than 400,000 people were expected. Around 800 events are on the program - in addition to free concerts, discussions, guided tours, hands-on activities and exhibitions. The Fantastischen Vier, Flo Mega and MiA will perform on Saturday evening, and on Sunday the singer Kamrad and the band Versengold will perform, among others.

Many organizations and institutions show their work on the festival grounds - including the constitutional bodies Bundesrat, Bundestag, Federal Government and Federal Constitutional Court. Anyone who couldn't get a photo with Merz had the opportunity to at least have their photo taken at the Chancellor's desk at the “Selfie Spot”.

Long queues in front of the stands and pavilions

A long queue formed in front of the Federal Government's dialogue forum due to the visit of Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. The SPD politician answered questions about hybrid attack scenarios, rearmament and conscription. The discussion was broadcast by video to the outdoor area for people who couldn't get a seat in the pavilion.

The federal states present themselves on the “State Mile” on the Osterdeich. People had to queue for a long time for numerous offers, for example in front of the Thuringia Mini Planetarium. At the Berlin stand, a DJ played chilled music while guests relaxed on deck chairs in the sun. Guests were able to answer quiz questions at the Hamburg stand, and the legendary VW currywurst was served at the Lower Saxony stand.

The state of Bremen is hosting the celebrations in several areas in the city center. It's about mobility, ports, science, innovation and space travel. A special eye-catcher next to the town hall is a 17 meter high rocket.

Numerous police officers from different federal states ensure security. The federal police are also on duty - for example at train stations and at Bremen Airport. Many squares and streets are secured with mobile barriers, and some areas are monitored with cameras. The concept seems to be working: According to the police, there were no obstructions or disruptions.