The official celebration of the Day of German Unity began in Bremen with an ecumenical celebratory service. The leading clergy of the Protestant and Catholic churches in Bremen called for social cohesion and mutual support.
"True strength exists where we need each other and have confidence in each other," said the church president of the Bremen Evangelical Church, Bernd Kuschnerus, according to the sermon manuscript in Bremen's St. Peter's Cathedral. In stressful times, society should not allow its confidence to be lost. Instead, people have to stand up for each other and support the disadvantaged. Charity means carrying burdens together and recognizing the abilities of each individual.
Warning of loneliness and excessive demands
The bishop of the Catholic diocese of Osnabrück, Dominicus Meier, warned against citizens becoming isolated and overwhelmed in times of upheaval. “The fact that people find strength again cannot be left to chance.” Under no circumstances should the attitude arise that everyone is the sole creator of their own happiness. Otherwise, living together will develop into a society in which only the law of the strongest counts.
Meier referred to the inviolable dignity of all people enshrined in the Basic Law and the message of the Gospel. They protected society “from all exclusion, xenophobia and anti-Semitism.” Unity and cohesion were only reliable where people took a clear stand against division and polarization.
The heads of the German constitutional bodies, the federal states and the parliaments, including Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), took part in the service under the motto "Many gifts - one spirit". Afterwards, the secular ceremony was planned in the neighboring concert hall "Die Glocke" with Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the incumbent Federal Council President and Bremen Mayor Andreas Bovenschulte (SPD).
Kaiser for East German Federal President
Meanwhile, the Federal Government's Eastern Commissioner, Elisabeth Kaiser, criticized the existing inequality between East and West and called for an East German Federal President. “I think the time is ripe for an East German head of state again,” she told the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung. "Why shouldn't the next Federal President be a smart woman from East Germany?"
October 3rd is a reminder that living together in freedom and without borders cannot be taken for granted. "For many East Germans, this was a time of great biographical upheaval and existential worries. These experiences continue to shape East Germans to this day." Since then, however, a lot has been achieved: "East Germany is now an economic innovation region, an important science location and the bridge to Eastern Europe. Many East Germans have now earned a modest fortune."
Nevertheless, there are still large differences in income and wealth between East and West. East Germans are still not sufficiently represented in leadership positions. These differences have to be overcome. “When the leaders of the Federal Republic of Germany meet in Bremen on October 3rd for German Unity Day, it will once again be noticeable that none of them are currently from East Germany,” said Kaiser. "The impression can quickly arise that the East Germans play no role in the leadership of our country and are just sitting at the table."
Hundreds of thousands of visitors expected
The official celebrations for German Unity Day are organized by a different federal state every year. The event is tied to the presidency of the Federal Council, which is currently the smallest federal state.
Until Sunday there is a community festival in Bremen city center and on the Weser with music, theater and discussions on more than 100 stages. A musical highlight is the performance of the Fantastischen Vier on Saturday evening. In total, more than 400,000 visitors are expected in the Hanseatic city over the weekend.
The celebrations take place under the motto "Many Strengths - One Country". The 15 other federal states present themselves on a state mile.
