36: Reunification

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.