Day of German Unity

One day, lots of stories: on 3 October 2025, Germany marks 35 years of reunification. How has the country grown together since then? See here for information, background and impressions.

Die Kuppel des Reichstags in Berlin

35 years of German unity

Germany’s most important public holiday

German reunification is celebrated each year on 3 October. Facts about Germany’s most important public holiday.

Rapper und TikToker Fjodor Busik

35 years of German unity Media “Tuff im Osten”: dancing to promote community spirit

Feierstimmung am Brandenburger Tor

35 years of German unity Reunification Has Germany grown together?

Elisabeth Kaiser, Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Ostdeutschland

35 years of German unity

Commissioner for Eastern Germany

“A huge achievement which we should talk about more”

The Federal Government Commissioner for Eastern Germany talks about the families who had to start over following German reunification, and reflects on the good fortune of living in a free country.

East Side Gallery in Berlin – die bemalte Mauer

Border experience

Where German-German history becomes tangible: various remembrance sites ensure that the past is not forgotten.

Hoch im Norden: Leuchtturm bei List

The four corners of Germany

35 years of unity and 26 years of the Zipfelbund – German unification first made this association of compass-point communities possible.

Mauerfall

35 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall

East and West Germany were divided for 28 years.

Mit dem Fahrrad kommt man nah ran an die Mauerreste.

Following the Berlin Wall trail

Brandenburger Tor

A process without historical precedent

Quiz

What do you know about the reunification?

Quiz

On which date did Germany celebrate its reunification?

Quiz

How many roads were divided by the Wall?

Quiz

Who accidentally opened the Wall during a press conference?

Quiz

Which US President said the famous words: “Mister Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”

Quiz

When did the construction of the Wall begin?

Quiz

For how many years was Germany divided?

Quiz

Which fruit became a symbol for the fall of the Wall?

Quiz

Germany – divided then, unified now

Quiz

Here are some images of places in Germany before and after the Fall of the Berlin Wall.

Find out more

deutschland.de

Past and present

Germany before and after the fall of the Wall – a story in pictures

Michail Gorbatschow, Lech Walesa und Angela Merkel 2009 in Berlin.

Overcoming the division

The new order in Europe was sealed when Germany reunified. Discover the most important background facts here.

Achieving Unity

History professor Gregor Schöllgen on the Two Plus Four process and the path from the fall of the Wall in 1989 to German unification in 1990.

Zwei-plus-Vier-Vertrag

Two plus Four Treaty

The fall of the Berlin Wall marked the beginning of a new era, but it was the Two plus Four Treaty that actually paved the way to German reunification.

Angie Pohlers

No Young Pioneer’s badge

Angie Pohlers was born in eastern Germany the year the Wall came down. How has she experienced the growing together of East and West?

East Side Gallery in Berlin

A life without the Wall

In 1989 the Wall fell, and in 1989 our author was born. She belongs to a generation that never experienced a divided Germany.

Gemälde von Birgit Kinder an der Ostseite der Berliner Mauer.

Growing together

Stefan was born two years before the fall of the Berlin Wall. Although he grew up in united Germany, he can still see traces of the old division today.

Heute ist die Mauer in Berlin eine Touristenattraktion.

Germany without the Wall

Feier anlässlich der Fall der Mauer am Brandenburger Tor

The fall of the Wall and German reunification

Hand drauf: Ulrich Krökel mit Lech Wałęsa

Blossoming friendships

A personal look back at 35 years of neighbourly relations between Poland and the reunified Germany by foreign correspondent Ulrich Krökel.

Plakate von 1989 im Deutschen Historischen Museum in Berlin

“We are the people”

German reunification: the motto of the peaceful revolution in 1989 was an appeal against division and in favour of non-violence.

Waferfertigung in einer Bosch-Halbleiterfabrik

Economics: Stronger together

The economy in east Germany is characterized by clusters that have formed in traditional industrial centres. These are its strengths.

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