21st Anniversary of German Reunification

After the first free elections in Eastern Germany, in summer 1990 the Defence Ministers of three countries – Rainer Eppelmann representing the German Democratic Republic, Gerhard Stoltenberg (Federal Republic of Germany) and Lajos Für, the then Defence Minister of Hungary – planted two trees in the garden of Stefánia Palace, Budapest. The three Ministers’ message and hope was that the German reunification will have taken place by the time the leaves meet in the foliage of the two trees planted just a few steps away from each other.

Although at that time it was predicted to occur several years later, in fact the reunion was to take place some months later in October 3, 1990.

Speaking at the event held in Tuesday afternoon, Lajos Fodor, the MoD State Secretary for Public Administration reminded the participants that the Berlin Wall became a “symbol" of division, oppression and Communist dictatorship right after it was erected. It became an eternal, tangible memento of the Iron Curtain that separated nations and families.

“For now, time does not allow me to tell the shocking stories about workers trapped on the eastern side of the wall, who went to work but were unable to return to their children the next day. Or the stories about the victims of the wall who attempted to get over it but never succeeded. We must, however, tell these stories to the succeeding generations so that no one can divide the people of Europe any more.", the State Secretary said, adding that we, Hungarians should feel proud on the Day of German Unity. A bilingual German–Hungarian plaque on the wall of the Reichstag in Berlin serves as an eternal reminder of the friendship between the two nations, highlighting the significance of Hungary’s removal of the border fence in 1989 and its role in the process of German reunification.

Klaus Riedel, the Deputy Chief of Mission from the German Embassy delivered a speech at the ceremony, in which he said the memorial stone unveiled last year and the memorial trees planted 21 years ago have really impressed him because the German reunification took place long before the leaves of the two trees met each other.

“How quickly the German reunification became a reality! How quick the processes of European unification are today! Hungary has by now completed a successful EU presidency period. The relations between Germany and Hungary, however, are not limited to political and military issues – in addition there is ongoing cooperation between the two countries in the fields of science, culture and the economy, and we are moving toward increased cooperation in the future.", the Deputy Chief of Mission said.

In what followed, Klaus Riedel and German Defence Attaché Manfred Knopf laid a wreath at the memorial site formed of the trees commemorating the reunification and the stone monument. MoD State Secretary for Public Administration Lajos Fodor and Gábor Márki, the MoD Deputy State Secretary for Defence Policy also laid wreaths.

TThe ceremony closed with the army band playing the national anthems of Germany, Hungary and the European Union.

 Photo: Gábor Galovtsik