Overview
- The legal act that made October 3, 1990 the national holiday was the Einigungsvertrag, when five East German states joined the Federal Republic and the DDR ceased to exist.
- International diplomacy sealed the process: the Two‑plus‑Four Treaty signed by the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and France removed external limits and restored full German sovereignty on reunification day.
- Celebrations began at midnight in Berlin with the raising of the black‑red‑gold flag at the Reichstag and mass public gatherings across many cities.
- The date was chosen over November 9 because that day is tied to the 1938 Reichspogromnacht, and it replaced West Germany’s earlier unity day of June 17 which commemorated the 1953 uprising.
- Today the 3 October holiday means schools and most businesses close, which many Germans use for short trips to neighboring countries where shops stay open, and this year coverage has focused on historical background and practical travel tips rather than new political developments.