October 03 is the German national holiday and a public holiday. It commemorates the German reunification in 1990 when the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) joined the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany). Prior to reuinification, Germany was divided into West and East, with a border wall running right through Berlin. People in East Germany were unable to vote in free elections or – apart from a few exceptions – travel to the West. Because many families had relatives and friends in the other part of Germany, this was felt to be a severe limitation in the divided country. With the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 09, 1989, and the official reunification in 1990, a single democratic German state was formed for the first time since the end of the Second World War.
In 2024, this special day for Germany and Berlin falls on a Thursday. This year's central celebrations will take place in Schwerin. Events, tips for tours and excursions for the Day of German Unity in the capital.