Saxony celebrates German Unity Day with a focus on cohesion

The Day of German Unity was celebrated in Saxony with memorial events, concerts and church services. For him, German unity remains a stroke of luck in history, said former Federal Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière at the traditional ceremony in the Saxon state parliament in Dresden.

“To have brought about German unity peacefully out of our own political will, in agreement with all our neighbors and with the Soviet Union and with the active support of the USA, is not only a great political and historical achievement for everyone involved, but for me it is truly a miracle.”

But there were also some mistakes in the overall successful unification process, explained de Maizière (CDU), who also held several ministerial posts in Saxony. Although state unity is complete, internal unity is not. «It can't be any other way. Inner unity cannot be achieved.” Many West Germans expected East Germans to somehow become like them. “Anyone who demands eye level is not at eye level.”

The new generation does not demand equality, but rather live it

More cohesion is needed, emphasized de Maizière. There is now a new generation that was socialized as children or young people in the GDR, but was educated and experienced growing up in unified Germany. “This is an increasingly self-confident generation. It is gradually filling leadership positions in politics, business and society. She is proud to call herself East German, but that is not meant to be divisive or demarcating.” They didn't demand eye level, but lived it.

People don't expect West Germans to recognize their life's achievements, but rather show that they are better in many ways, stronger and also a bit tougher. “They are East Germans. I look forward to this generation. This is cohesion despite differences.”

A strong role in the EU, NATO and the world is required

The keynote speaker emphasized that German Unity Day does not only belong to the Germans. «Germany is referred to the world; historical, geographical, political, cultural, economic. We can do little alone. And we don’t just maintain our prosperity and finance the social security systems on our own.”

It is in the national interest to look at the world and play a strong role in the EU, in NATO and in the world. “For me this is a patriotic attitude. Black-red-gold is the color of freedom and responsibility.”

State Parliament President Alexander Dierks (CDU) had previously called for solidarity. October 3rd is a reminder of “what great value there is in freedom and democracy”. The central German unity celebration took place this year in Bremen.

Saxony's Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer (CDU) emphasized that the Day of German Unity unites people. “We are surrounded by friends today,” and the European Union has provided security and prosperity. Now the positive, the unifying things must be highlighted. “We have to set the course for growth.”

What is celebrated on German Unity Day?

On October 3, 1990, the unification treaty between the GDR and the Federal Republic of Germany came into force. With him, the unity of Germany was restored after more than 40 years of division. Berlin became the capital of the unified Germany and October 3rd was designated as a German national holiday.

What does that mean?

October 3rd is the only federal holiday, all others are the responsibility of the federal states. Previously, June 17th was celebrated in West Germany as “German Unity Day” - to commemorate the uprising in the GDR on June 17th, 1953.

Why don't we celebrate on November 9th - the day the Berlin Wall fell?

The day the Berlin Wall fell would have been an obvious date for German Unity Day. But on this day we also remember the November pogroms around November 9, 1938, in which the National Socialists persecuted Jews and destroyed and devastated their synagogues, shops and homes. This meant that the systematic persecution and murder of the Jewish population became more intense. A national holiday with a celebratory character could have overshadowed this dark anniversary.