German unity - Germany / Federal Republic of Germany 1990 - 50 Pfennig

Since 3 October 1990 applies in the countries Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia as well as in the eastern part of Berlin the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany. According to Article 2 (2) of the "Treaty between the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic on the Establishment of the Unity of Germany - Unification Treaty", October 3 will therefore be a public holiday in the future: a day for all Germans the gratitude, the reflection - and especially the joy. On October 3, 1990, the preamble to the Basic Law of 1949 called for "the entire German people" to "complete the unity and freedom of Germany in free self-determination." Now the preamble reads: »Germans in the states of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt , Schleswig-Holstein and Thuringia have completed the unity and freedom of Germany in free self-determination. Thus, this Basic Law applies to the entire German people. "These sober words circumscribe what in common usage has been called" reunification "for decades. The reunification of Germany was sealed by the resolution of the People's Chamber of the GDR of 23 August 1990, with which the accession of the GDR to the Federal Republic of Germany was declared with effect from 3 October 1990 in accordance with article 23 of the Basic Law. This decision had been taken by a majority of more than 80% of the votes cast. He faithfully reflected the desire of most Germans in the former GDR to be united with their compatriots in the west in a common state. How the reunification of Germany, which has been divided over more than forty years, is unprecedented in the recent history of Europe. It happened - like Chancellor Dr. In a government statement on August 23, 1990, Helmut Kohl put it "without war, without bloody revolution and violence and in full accord with our friends and partners and neighbors in West and East". And he added, "When have any people ever been fortunate enough to overcome decades of painful separation in such a peaceful way? A dream comes true in whose realization many believe - even in our country - had already given up. «(Text: The head of the Federal Chancellery, Bonn)