German Unity Day: celebrations in Bremen

First the service, then the ceremony: around 1,000 guests of honor from politics, the judiciary and society celebrated German Unity Day in Bremen. “The challenges of the present must never displace this moment of happiness in German history,” said Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the ceremony in Bremen. «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 in Bremen this year because the smallest federal state holds the presidency of the Federal Council. Germany's political leaders came to the Hanseatic city to celebrate - 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. At the same time, hundreds of thousands of people celebrated a community festival with a colorful program.

Federal President: “Have the courage to renew!”

Looking to the present, 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 from 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.

Federal Council President: Unity as a “mission for the future”

Federal Council President and host Andreas Bovenschulte (SPD) focused on the question of what cohesion means today. «Unity needs recognition. For different paths in life and for what people have achieved.” Unity is not just a historical act, but a mission for the future.

Bovenschulte also warned against forces that question rights and despise free media, independent courts and science. “Democracy needs debate. But the political opponent is not an enemy,” said the Federal Council President.

Service based on a well-known fairy tale

The central celebrations began in the morning with an ecumenical service on the theme “Many gifts - one spirit” – and the famous fairy tale of the Bremen Town Musicians by the Brothers Grimm. The four animals - donkey, dog, cat and rooster - are so different and that is precisely why they depend on each other, preached Bernd Kuschnerus, church president of the Bremen Evangelical Church. «We can't get any further alone. I think it’s the same for us too.”

The Osnabrück Bishop Dominicus Meier said: “Let us understand that unity and cohesion only work where people live it with attitude and conviction and stand against division and polarization.”

Festival with around 800 events and well-known bands

The service and the ceremony with a humorous moderation by actress Katja Riemann, music from the Bremen Philharmonic and dances were broadcast live on television and shown on several screens on the festival grounds.

Unity will be celebrated with a large community festival until Sunday, at which more than 400,000 people were expected. There are numerous stands and stages set up in the city center and on the banks of the Weser. Around 800 events are planned - in addition to free concerts, discussions, guided tours 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. 15 federal states present themselves on the “State Mile” on the Osterdeich. The two-city state is hosting the celebrations in several areas in the city center. It's about space travel and mobility, about science and innovations, about Bremen and Bremerhaven, as the organizers announced.

Numerous police officers and police officers from different federal states are supposed to 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.