Today is German Unity Day (German: Tag der Deutschen Einheit.)
It
remembers when West Germany united with East Germany in October 1990 – when
Communism collapsed in the East.
After
Nazi Germany was defeated in May 1945 Germany was split into 4 Occupation Zones
(French, British, Soviet and American.)
Berlin,
located 100 miles inside the Soviet Occupation Zone, was also split between the
French, British, Soviet and Americans.
In
1949 the western French, British and American Occupation Zones joined together
to become the Federal Republic of Germany (German: Bundesrepublik Deutschland) - it was also known as West Germany.
Its
Capital was Bonn.
In
1949 the eastern Soviet Occupation Zone of Soviet became the Democratic
Republic of Germany (German: Deutsche Demokratische Republik) - it was also known as East Germany.
Its
Capital was East Berlin.
West
Germany was a Democracy while East Germany was a Communist Dictatorship.
West
Germany joined NATO in 1955 while East Germany joined the Warsaw Pact in 1955.
West
Germany used the West German Mark (German: Deutsche Mark) – which was
Internationally Traded - while East Germany used the East German Mark (German: Mark
der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik) from 1951-July 1990 – which wasn’t
Internationally Traded - and then the
West German Mark from July 1990-October 1990.
East
Germany closed travel between East Germany and West Germany from 1945-1990 with
the Inner-German Border (German: innerdeutsche Grenze) and between East Berlin
and West Berlin from 1961-1990 with the Berlin Wall (German: Berliner Mauer)
and killed or arrested any East Germans trying to flee to freedom.
German
Reunification (German: Deutsche Wiedervereinigung) began when the Berlin Wall
was unexpected opened (on November 9, 1989) to East German Citizens for the
first time in 28 years.
The
first Free Elections in East Germany (since before the Nazis took power in 1933
or the Communists took power in 1945) occurred in March 1990 and resulted in
Pro-Unification Parties gaining power over the Socialist Unity Party of Germany
(German: Sozialistische Einheitspartei Deutschlands) Communist Party that had
been the only allowed Political Party since 1945.
East
Germany, which had always been a poor Communist Country full of Rationing and
Shortages of Basic Things entered into a Monterrey Union with West Germany in
July 1990 to use the stable West German Mark.
East
Germany withdrew from the Warsaw Pact in 1990.
East
Germany dissolved itself and merged with West Germany on October 3, 1990 under
the Declaration of Accession (German: Beitrittserklärung) and the Reunification
Treaty (German: Wiedervereinigungsvertrag) between East Germany and West
Germany.
East
Berlin joined with West Berlin and became Berlin - the Capital of the Federal Republic of
Germany.
Large
Construction Projects were made to bring the Former East Berlin and the Former
West Berlin into a Unified City and Capital for the first time in 45 years.
The
Former East German Federal States also merged with the West German Federal
States.
The
current Federal Republic of Germany (German: Bundesrepublik Deutschland) is not
a Successor State of West Germany, but is a continuation of West Germany
founded in 1949.
A
Reunited Germany continued West Germany’s Seats in the United Nations, NATO,
The
Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany (German: Vertrag über
die abschließende Regelung in Bezug auf Deutschland) was signed by the French,
the British, the Soviets and the Americans in September 1990 in which each
Occupation Force gave up all control over every part of Germany - East Germany
and West Germany – back to the German People.
The
British, French and Soviets did not initially want to allow for German
Reunification, but America worked with each Country and West Germany to get the
required approval.
There
was little to no Lustration in Reunited Germany after 1990.
Most
of the Communist Leaders, Stassi Officers, East German Border Guards, etc.were
allowed to either continue in their previous Jobs or were not brought to
justice for their Crimes (just like West Germany did with its Nazis from
1949-1990.)
After
Reunification eastern Germany faced a Brain Drain with Former East German
Doctors, teachers, Highly Skilled Workers and the Young moving to western
Germany leaving eastern Germany with High Unemployment and a Lack of Skilled
Professions.
The
Last Russian Troops left Reunited Germany on August 31, 1994 (after 49 years of
Occupation.)
Even
after 36 years of German Reunification there is still a distinct difference
between weatern and eastern Germany.
It
is often referred to as the "Wall in the Head" (German: Mauer im Kopf.)
Ossis
(Easterners) are stereotyped as Racist, Poor, and largely influenced by Russian
Culture, while Wessis (Westerners) are usually considered Snobbish, Dishonest, Wealthy,
and Selfish.
The
Reunited German Government spent a total of $2 Trillion US Dollars ($24
Trillion US Dollars in 2026) to bring the Standard of Living of eastern Germany
to that of western Germany.
Most
of the money came from the Solidarity Surcharge (German: Solidaritätszuschlag) that was paid by
western Germans to support eastern Germans.
Even
after 35 years of Reunification there is Ostalgie (Nostalgia for East Germany)
by Former East Germans who want the Old Products, TV Shows, Music and
Dictatorial Structure that they had in Communist East Germany.
In
2025 40% of Former East Germans continue to identify as East Germans instead of
just Germans.
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