Jan 03, 2016
When do I feel German?
National Day
expectations
reality
celebrations
fireworks
parades
parties
We have a day off
everybody celebrates We just celebrate in
one of the federal states’ capital
Fireworks and music at the Brandenburg Gate
3rd October
Why is the 3rd October the National Day
instead of the 9th November, the Day of the Fall of the Wall?
A look into the past -
German Empire (« Holy Roman Empire »)Succession of Charlemagne
10th
The first construction of a German Empire
14th
No Nation=
No National
Day
And then the German Empire declined and was
Early 19th century 1871
National identity arises in the different German states
The Proclamation of the German Empire in Versailles after the German-French War
leads to The German Nation.
No NationNo National Day
2nd September Sedan-Day (and Emperor’s Birthday)
Until …
destroyed by Napoleon I. (1803-06)
After World War I (1914 -1918):
1919 1933
11th August (1919) Birthday of democracy
Important date:9th November 1923
Hitler’s Coup in Munich (5-year-prison: « Mein Kampf »)
The Weimar Republic
The Third Reich
1933 1945
reinforcement of the National Identity: language, music, culture(revival of legends, regional customs
and creation of the Arian Race and Identity)
« Faith, morality and homeland »« Fidelity to the homeland »
1933: 1st May - Workers’ Day1939: 9th November – Day of the « Movement »
Important date: 9th November 1938 – synagogues on fire
Miners
1945-1990 1990-2010
After World War II: Germany divided and then….
2 Nations =
2 National days
GDR / DDR : 7th October (1949)
Day of the Republic
FRG / BRD:17th June (1953)
Day of the rebellion against the government
in Eastern Germany(Day of the
Reunification)
… the Berlin Wall falls : 9th November 1989 !!!
1 Nation = 1 National Day
3rd October (GDR-citizens become FRG-
citizens)
2009
9th November 2009 at the MGB
• In this year Germany has been united for 20 years.• Project with the French ECA including 40 schools in 22 European countries.• We let balloons with postcards fly into the air. One balloon even covered 400km and landed near Paris.• We made a song.
09. November 2009 at the MGB