Day of German Unity 2012

Reception on the occasion of the Day of German Unity 2012 Enlarge image Reception on the occasion of the Day of German Unity 2012 (© German Embassy) On the occasion of the Day of German Unity on 3 October 2012, the Chargé d' Affairs a.i., André Scholz received 300 guests at the residence of the German Ambassador in Klein Windhoek. The new Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Namibia, Onno Hückmann and his wife Martina Hückmann, were also present during the festivities. However, as Ambassador Hückmann had not officially handed over his letter of credence to President Pohamba - this will take place on the 17 October 2012 - he addressed the guests with a short greeting.

The beautiful gardens of the residence once again offered the perfect background for this festive event which was rounded off by the performances of the Maranatha Singers who also sang the national anthems of Namibia and Germany.

Please find below the speech of the Chargé d’Affairs a.i. held at the reception as well as greetings of the Federal President and the Federal Foreign Minster on the occasion of the Day of German Unity 2012. Find out more information about German Unity and the fall of the wall by following the link:

Reception on the occasion of the Day of German Unity 2012

Speech held by Mr. André Scholz, Chargé d'affairs a.i. of the German Embassy on the occasion of the Day of German Unity 2012

On the occasion of the Day of German Unity 2012 the Chargé d'Affairs a.i. André Scholz welcomed 300 guests to a reception.

Joachim Gauck, Offizielles Foto des Bundespräsidenten

Message from Federal President Joachim Gauck on the occasion of the Day of German Unity 2012

This year, for the first time, I am addressing you on the occasion of the Day of German Unity in my function as Federal President. It is a day that reminds us Germans what happiness our recent history has brought.

BM Westerwelle offizielles Porträt

Message from Dr Guido Westerwelle, Member of the German Bundestag and Federal Foreign Minister, on the occasion of the Day of German Unity 2012

On 3 October 1990, something that Germany had been hoping for became a reality: with national reunification complete, our country had the chance to start afresh.

Maueröffnung am Brandenburger Tor

Berlin’s Second Fall of the Wall at the “Festival of Freedom”

As a bulwark of concrete and barrier fences the Wall cut through Berlin for a length of over 43 kilometres – dividing the city and the whole of Germany. Now, 20 years after the fall of the wall on 9 November 1989, the symbol of almost three decades of German division will fall again on the same date, but this time it will be purely symbolic.

Brandenburger Tor mit Berliner Mauer

50th anniversary of the construction of the Berlin Wall

Fifty years ago the Berlin Wall was erected between East and West, dividing the country and the people. Countless lives were affected by the construction of the Wall. [...] Little by little, people are starting to forget how much pain and suffering was caused by the division of Germany, how the division was overcome, and what elation was felt when the Wall fell.

Berlin Wall Memorial - installation in memory of the escape victims.

“History should not be allowed to repeat itself”

It tore families and friends apart, divided Berlin and the country for almost 30 years and was seen as a symbol of the Iron Curtain: when the Berlin Wall was built on August 13, 1961, it signalled the beginning of the violent division of Germany. Over the coming days and months, events will be commemorating this incisive moment in modern German history and marking the 50th anniversary of the building of the Berlin Wall.

Mauerfall in Berlin

10 events leading to the fall of the Berlin Wall

19 August The "Pan-European Picnic" on the Austrian-Hungarian border: 600 GDR citizens flee to the West. By this time the Federal Republic of Germany's representation in East Berlin and its Embassies...

Approved

20 Years of German Unity

On 3 October 1990 the GDR acceded to the Federal Republic of Germany. Much has changed since then – nationally and internationally. How does reunification look after 20 years?

Helmut Kohl © picture-alliance/dpa

From the Fall of the Wall to German Unity - A Timeline

The fact that East Germany acceded to West Germany on October 3, 1990, less than a year after the fall of the wall, is a testament to the strong leadership of the United States and its allies, the remarkable vision of the Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev and the strong will of the German people to be reunited.

Government Quarter, Berlin © picture-alliance/dpa

Growing Together: Twenty Years of Economic and Social Integration

Following reunification of the two German states in 1990 Germany faced a challenge that was unique in history. The aim was to bring living conditions in both East and West closer together. Twenty years later, much progress has been made.

Day of German Unity 2012

Reception on the occasion of the Day of German Unity 2012

National Anthem of the Federal Republic of Germany

Deutsche Nationalhymne Audio File

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(© Bundesregierung.de)