Germany · 35 years of Deutsche Einheit (series: Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit, 1st issue)

The division of Germany resulted from the consequences of the Second World War and the emerging East–West conflict. In 1949, the Federal Republic of Germany (Bundesrepublik Deutschland) was established in the West and the German Democratic Republic (Deutsche Demokratische Republik) in the East. The two states belonged to different political, economic and military alliance systems. The Berlin Wall, which had existed since 1961, and the inner-German border severely restricted freedom of movement between East and West.

In autumn 1989, the leadership of the German Democratic Republic came under pressure as a result of movements seeking to leave the country and growing protests. At the Monday demonstrations and other rallies, citizens demanded political participation, free elections, and freedom of travel and expression. The slogan “Wir sind das Volk” (“We are the people”) expressed the demonstrators’ understanding of themselves as the holders of state sovereignty and their rejection of the ruling Socialist Unity Party of Germany’s claim to sole representation. The protests remained largely peaceful and are therefore referred to as the Peaceful Revolution (Friedliche Revolution).

Following the opening of the Berlin Wall on 9 November 1989, German reunification became a more prominent issue. In this context, the modified slogan “Wir sind ein Volk” (“We are one people”) spread. It no longer stood solely for democratic rights within the German Democratic Republic, but for the desire of many people for a common German state. At the same time, however, differing views existed regarding the pace and form of the reunification process.

The first free People's Chamber (Volkskammer) election in the German Democratic Republic in March 1990 created the parliamentary basis for the subsequent negotiations. This was followed by the Economic, Monetary and Social Union, the Treaty of Unification (Einigungsvertrag) between the two German states, and the Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany (Zwei-plus-Vier-Vertrag) with the four former occupying powers. On 3 October 1990, the German Democratic Republic acceded to the scope of application of the Basic Law (Grundgesetz); its Länder became part of the Federal Republic.

The selection of this commemorative occasion thus refers both to a state anniversary and to the political language of the protest movement. The slogan used points to the transition from demands for democratic self-determination to German reunification.