German Unity Day facts for kids

German Unity Day is the national day of Germany. It is celebrated every year on October 3rd as a public holiday. This day remembers when East and West Germany became one country again in 1990.

German Unity Day

German Unity Day is one of the most important holidays in Germany. It celebrates the reunification of Germany. This happened on October 3, 1990. Before this, Germany was divided into two separate countries for many years.

Why October 3rd?

The date October 3rd was chosen to mark the official day of German reunification. This was when the two parts of Germany, the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) and the German Democratic Republic (East Germany), officially joined together. It was a very happy and important moment for the German people.

Why Not November 9th?

Some people thought about celebrating German Unity Day on November 9th instead. This date is also very important in German history. On November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall came down. This was a huge step towards Germany becoming one country again.

A Difficult Date

However, November 9th also has some sad memories. On this day in 1918, the German Republic was formed. In 1923, there was also an attempt by Adolf Hitler to take power. More importantly, November 9, 1938, was the date of a terrible event called Kristallnacht. This was when Nazis attacked Jewish people and their businesses. Because of these sad events, November 9th was not chosen as the national holiday. It was decided that October 3rd was a better day to celebrate unity and hope.

Images for kids

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  Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Joachim Gauck at the Bürgerfest (German Unity Day festivities) in Hannover in 2014

See also

In Spanish: Día de la Unidad Alemana para niños