
On October 3, 1990, nearly a year after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the former East and West Germany reunited to form the modern Federal Republic of Germany. German Unity Day commemorates the formal completion of the unification process, bringing a 45-year-long period of division to a close.
Through the following 12 photos, we’ll show you the full spectrum of reactions to this historic event, from celebration to protest.
Official celebration at the Reichstag

With the official reunification of East and West Germany, two nations became one.
On October 3, 1990, amidst the flags of the German states, a ceremony took place at the Reichstag to officially reunify the nation. Interestingly, though, this was not the seat of the German parliament on German Unity Day – the capital would not be shifted back from Bonn to Berlin until June of 1991.
Crowds on the boulevard

On German Unity Day, the whole of Berlin was on the streets. Impromptu food and drink stands were constructed for the revellers across the historic city centre, finally giving East Germans a chance to taste products of capitalism previously unavailable to them.
Colours on display

On October 3, 1990, people confidently boasted the colours of the German flag: black, red and gold. The men with the spiked helmets pictured here may have somewhat missed the mark on the historical era, but their celebratory spirit is tangible no less.
A unified police force

Here, we see an East German (left) and West German (right) police officer having a chat – a meeting that, not all that long beforehand, would not have been possible. The East German officer may look more intimidating in the severe-looking uniform, but he’s not the one carrying a gun.
Political powerhouses

Several top politicians, such as Willy Brandt, Hans-Dietrich Genscher and then-chancellor Helmut Kohl, gathered in front of the Reichstag. Interestingly, the only woman in the group is Hannelore Kohl, the chancellor’s wife. Women would soon become more prominent in the German political scene – Germany’s future first female chancellor, Angela Merkel, was just beginning her career as a pro-democratic politician at the time of reunification.
Emblems of the East

The Wall, the wreckage of a Trabi and a former East German flag: together in one image, these subjects seem to effortlessly capture the essence of German Unity Day. This photo would have been printed in newspapers at the time, but if it were taken today it may have had what it takes to go viral.
Hitler salute and the flag of the German Empire

On October 3, 1990, not everything was set for “unity and justice and freedom”, as promised by the de facto motto of Germany. Right-wing radicals bore Prussian symbols and Nazi salutes, reminding us of the darker moments of German history.
Left-wing demonstration at Alexanderplatz

On the other side of the political spectrum, the radical left mobilised and called for a demonstration on Alexanderplatz. These guys demonstrated under the slogan “Shut up, Germany. That’s enough!” and had a fight with the police during the night leading into German Unity Day.
Crossing out the flag

As former East Germany was tossed into the dustbin of history, the old flags were branded with an X – but was this all it took to move forward? Of course, it wasn’t that easy. To this day, tensions between the former East and West continue to smoulder, and an economic and cultural divide still pervades daily life. The country may have grown together over the past decades, but the differences are still palpable.
“We are innocent”

The thought of German socialist revolutionaries Marx and Engels gave the former DDR its intellectual foundation. So, were they to blame for the mess that system had become? Not according to this graffiti painting on Marx-Engels-Platz on the day of October 3, 1990. It reads “We are innocent”. The building behind these gentlemen, the Palace of the Republic and seat of the former East German parliament, has since been demolished and replaced with the new Humboldt Forum.
Thanks, USA!

German reunification brought about a sentiment of international gratitude and hopes for peace among nations. The sign held by these citizens, thanking the USA, Soviet Union, Hungary and the current/former chancellors, makes you feel a little nostalgic for such post-reunification optimism.
At the helm of hedonism

Following reunification, Berlin became a canvas for exploring unused creative and expressional spaces. From the Love Parade to the infamous nightlife full of sex and fetish parties, all of this was yet to come. In his excessive exuberance, this naked flag-bearer anticipated the hedonism that would soon descend upon the city.