German Reunification, CNN, 1990.10.3

[CrazySoon9413]

North and South Korea will be the next one to unify !

[6891man]

We can speak of the two German states being "reunified"; but what really happened was an absorption of the East by the West. The government of the West (the Federal Republic) became the government of all Germany

[Reazzurro90]

God bless the reunified Germany :).

Greetings from an Italian!!

[skeaneable]

in another alternate universe the Cold War is still waging on !

[XodoX]

Where's the rest??

[the2belo]

@XodoX It's all I still had on tape. :(

[toddh1988]

I was a U.S naval officer on ship in the Persian Gulf this day. Saddam Hussein had invaded Kuwait 2 months earlier, and 3 months later we began the liberation of Kuwait.

[jamestargetedindiv]

Check my comments in my channel for information about the Pre-January 8th version of Inception.

[blueboy962000]

American here--I was only 12 on this day, and watched East Germany throw the Communists out on their ears a year earlier. Admittedly, you guys in Germany have a lot to teach us about national unity.

[thenekom]

@blueboy962000 They know how to throw a freaking party too.

[Warblefly41]

you say that Germany is unified? Going back to 1848 Germany was divided into 38-41 states. By 1871 this was reduced to four. During WW2 this went down to two. But then By 1946 it was split into four zones of occupation, the Saarland and two monarchies. And then after that up to 1990 it was "one nation divided into five states" - FRG, GDR, Austria. Luxembourg and Liechtenstein. It would have been reunified if the FRG absorbed the other four. But then only GDR joined - and then...

[Bmanstudios101]

Flag of the Greatest Germany to ever exist at 3:16

[Chiron84]

Until the end of my life I will regret that I was to young to appreciate these historic scenes back then.

[shakysyxx]

i wish this could happen in my time with Korea...and now the recently separated north/south Sudan....no country should be separated during war or peace....let Germany lead by example...cheers from Toronto Canada and congratulations on this fine day :)

[facepalmdeluxe]

it's only a matter of time when south and north korea will be unified :)

[Pikaqiu]

i wish the korean reunification will be as beautiful and peaceful..

[blueboy962000]

@Pikaqiu Sadly, if Korean reunification occurs, the way things are going it might happen in a violent Romania-style coup.

[hyonakm88]

i love this! it gives me hope for the reunification of my country, South Korea, and North Korea. I hope it will be as beautiful as this! 

[Teufelsnachbar667]

Does anyone else see the War Flag of the German Empire at 3:24 ?

[komplettsinnlos]

Thanks god for this day.

[helmuthoorn]

I'm Dutch, but in church we sang 'Nun danket alle Gott'

[armatus99]

funny its called unification, cause technically it was accession. the gdr states joined the federal republic.

[georgie2998]

As we just learned from declassified Russian documents, our "trusted friend and ally" (puke!) the United States of America, were backing our reunification IN PUBLIC. But behind the scenes, they desperately tried to get the former Soviet Union on their side. Soviet tanks were supposed to rush down any freedom march in Leipzig and elsewhere. In fact, the USA were eager to keep the iron curtain closed and my country divided FOREVER. Thank Gorbachev, it came as we today know. Shame on Ameriturds.

[Verbeke7]

@georgie2998

Piss off, you stupid Nazi.

[Verbeke7]

@georgie2998

You should be thankful we didn't carve up your Jew-killing country like a turkey and reduce it to a bunch of farms.

[spoonetti]

I am always impressed when I watch theses pictures. That was a great day for us germans. But presently, most of the germans don't appreciate this wonder of the reunification anymore :-(

By the way: What do I read here? Who have ever asserted that Germany and Austria wants to join? Neither the germans (like me) nor the austrians got that idea! These are definitely two different sovereign countries. So, don't be afraid :-)

[maggytec]

you may notice the Reichskriegsflaggen (War Flags) which spoil the whole scene.

[Lintflas]

This was the most peaceful revolution in human history. Not a single person died in this process, and it's a symbol of the spirit that has changed a nation from a dark dictatorship into one of the most cosmopolitan, peacekeeping and progressive democracies on earth.

[strangeloveify]

@Lintflas at least 125 people died trying to cross the wall to get to the west. 

[Lintflas]

@strangeloveify

True, but it's not part of the reunification process of 1989. No one died in this revolution, though it was a very dangerous and precarious situation. This was nothing but a miracle.

[Froggie1365]

@Lintflas Germany isn't a democracy, dipshit, it's a federal republic.

[Lintflas]

@Froggie1365

Germany is a federal parliamentary republic, and of course a democracy with 72 different parties, and actually it is one of the most democratic countries in the world with election campaigns almost every 3 months from countless local governments, 324 county governments, 16 state governments up to the national government with a parliament and different federal councils.

[Froggie1365]

@Lintflas A representative democracy is still not true democracy. Both of which suck BTW, Germany was the best under the Kaiser, not this democratic bullshit.

[Lintflas]

@Froggie1365

If you put things that way, democracy never works properly in the long run and even the old Greeks already realised that 2000 years ago, so where is the news?

Among other victors of WW1 who falsey blamed Germany for a war we didn't start, it was your government that forced the German Kaiser to abdicate, because they wanted to kill the "dangerous" Prussian spirit of Germany.

Fortunately this attempt failed, and thanks to that precious Prussian spirit we rose again without a Kaiser.

[Froggie1365]

@Lintflas I'm not responsible for my government's actions, much less the government of 1919. You're still a shadow of your former selves, despite being the leading economy in Europe, deal with it.

[Lintflas]

@Froggie1365

Germany, 3rd largest arms industry and 3rd largest ammunition dump in the world, world leading in about 1700 of the most important technologies, just heading for the 3rd largest economy on the planet with the most advanced infrastructure in the world, world export leader for decades competing head to head with China right now with just a size of Texas, etc ... is a shadow of itself?

Obvioulsy you don't have a clue what you're talking about.

[Froggie1365]

@Lintflas It's obviously, BTW, not obvioulsy. First off, I never denied that, Germany is one of the world's leading economies, that's true, but what I'm saying is that it was better under the authoritarian rule of the kaisers than a "democracy", for one you had a positive birthrate and didn't have to bring turks, poles and balkan immigrants en masse to "culturally enrich" your country and make up the for the lack of workforce.

You could have even been considered a super power during Hitler.

[irishgodfatherchris]

its quite amazing that after 65 years of division it just was suddenly over just like that.

[irishgodfatherchris]

@irishgodfatherchris sorry I meant 45 years

[youtert]

I wonder how many people got hit in the head by all those rockets on the way down.

[the2belo]

@youtert At one point you can see a Roman candle fall into the crowd :D

[relazar]

It came out in 2009 that Thatcher and Mitterand opposed reunification with great vigor. Of course they're both cunts so their opinion doesn't really matter.

[poodtang1]

@relazar

I was watching a documentery about that. Where George Bush sr. was discussing his talks with Thatcher. And Bush said something to Thatcher about "no,no, the West and Eat Germans have earned their right for reunification"

Thatcher was a bitch, she also apposed sanctions against S.Africa. I think that says it all.

[VpR81]

@relazar That has understandable reasons. The french and the british were afraid of a reunited germany. With 80 million citizens, 600,000 active soldiers in one of the most modern armies and after Japan and USA, the strongest economy in the world, germany would be the most powerful nation in europe. Again. The americans only saw the positive effects for germany, europe and in fact, for the whole world. 20 yrs later, one can truly say: The americans knew it better.

[hachibeach151]

Hells Bells @ 5:56.

hb151

[carlospfontes]

I think this is a fake. CNN never broadcasted lively from Germany on that day. They took those images and just added the conversation.

[Skoda130]

Then present some evidence for that.

[jackuy12345]

night club time

[zippidog]

3 words..."GROUP HUG EVERYONE"

[lalithtissera]

Margret Thacher , coroded iron "lady" , opposed.

the reunification, Please remember that witch was not a friend of anybody.

[bazzatheblue]

@lalithtissera ,good old Maggie,she was the greatest British PM of the 20th century.I wish she was around now instead of that slug Brown.

[Germannerd]

the most beatifull moment in the german history!!!!

i love to see that viedeo!!!!

lang lebe deutschland!!!

[Sismiques]

☭★LIEBE DER DDR!☭★

[fogofwar3]

@Comradelenin1999 - Go fuck yourself commie faggot.

[Comradelenin1999]

Why don't you?

[GR8WHITEC5]

Thi sis kind of funny because, I was stationed in Berlin when this occured and I was going to go but I was under the impression that it would not be a big deal...I was totally wrong when I hear there were over 1 million people there. Looking back, I really wish I had gone. A historical moment in time for sure. I recently retured from my second assignment in Germany (Mainz-Weisbaden) and left just prior to the anniversay of the Berlin Airlift. I keep missing all these significant events!!

[lamparalaptopiaguita]

well thats a certain goddamn shame :(

[Hairysteed]

"Ich bin airliner"?!

[Germannerd]

im crying

[SillyGrandpa]

The re-unification of Germany has come about thanks to the Poles !!! I hope that the Germans are appreciative of this fact !!!

[schlawa]

The Polish Solidarność movement was indeed helpful. We have not forgotten that in Germany. I hope that Poland also remembers that Germany helped Poland into the EU. At least your PM signed the new EU treaty now, and Poles voted his evil twin out of Office. There is hope.

greets from your western neighbour and friend.

[SillyGrandpa]

schlawa: Thank God that the German people are aware of the Polish contribution. Yes, Germany was a big proponent of Polish entry into the EU. It was the right thing to do and the honourable thing to do !!! The Germans did not disappoint. I am optimistic that Poles and Germans can co-exist. I have a lot of faith in the youth of both nations. There is no other way except to live in peace and harmony with each other. The pain of the past will take time to heal but it is not insurmoutable.

[ledzepgirl92]

I always knew Germany as one country, and it really is hard to imagine, how that must have been. I'm glad I never got to knew my homecountry as divided.

[juergenwest]

a strong memory from my childhood, still brings tears to my eyes as the sound of the bell begins and the flag is raised. I recall how important of a moment this was in German history and how important and long awaited it had been by my German born father and our family friends in Germany.

[eddielung31]

too bad, "the left wing and right wing" would grow into Neo Nazi movement in years to come

[bjnboy]

Does anyone think that Germany and Austria should unite?

[aabedutupe]

Unite or not it won't make any difference,

at least now.

[bjnboy]

It will make Germany stronger and greater.

[gerdxmuller13]

maybe ......why not????

[capulet82]

I can not believe you are asking that question!!!

[bjnboy]

What is that supposed to mean? I'm not a Neo-Nazi or anything like that. I just think it would be beneficial to both Germany and Austria if they were to unite as one, given their shared cultural, linguistical and historical ties.

[journalistgirl07]

Tears well up.

[habbadou]

Back then CNN used to actually have good journalistic programming. Now its just political crap.

[ChrisTheCrazy]

"so there grew together what belongs together" I was a little child when that finally happened and my parents couldnt believe what was taking place there. Thanks to all our allies for making that possible. Most of all thanks to the USA and France, our most appreciated allies.

[bo1983]

I don´t want the wall back. Germans which wan´t the wall back are idiots. We haven´t any borders with a lot of our neighboorstaates like poland, french, austria e.t.c since the european union, not only with autria. greetz from germany

[habbadou]

There are positives about leaving the wall up, for example sparing the east of the cultural rot of the American-influenced west.

[Shukria123]

A lot of Germans want the Berlin Wall back - only this time they would make it twice as high!

[dadecountyhustler305]

Germany has a very high standard of living today. And is the 3rd most wealthiest country in the world. They are a very well respected throughout the world.

They have a higher standard of living then the USA. You know what...... fuck Germany. lol

[ChrisTheCrazy]

why are you voting down dadecountryhustler305, hes being ironic, Germany's awesome is what hes saying

[trokoro]

Former West German Länder have more in common with Austria than with former DDR Länder.

In fact, there is no border between Austria and the rest of Deutscheland and they use the same currency. Also 40% of Austrian imports and over 30% of Austrian exports come from the rest of Deutscheland.

So German Reunfiication will be complete when Austria becomes part of the Federation. The famous slogan "WIR SIND EIN VOLK" could be better applied to Austria than to former DDR Lánder.

[DavBlc7]

Don't forget the reunification of Austria with Germany is still forbidden under UN rules!

That was because that was the goal of Nazism  not Germany!

[trokoro]

You are wrong. It was the goal of Liberal Germans decades before the Nazis. But Conservatives like Otto Von Bismarck wanted a Little Germany excluding Austria as Austria by then was joined to Hungary and several Slavic nations. But after the end of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, there is not reason for keeping the secession. It is a historical reason similar to the one separating Canada from the U.S. Canada is a Monarchy while the U.S. is a Republic, but if Canada becomes a Republic...

[bazzatheblue]

@trokoro ,i agree,I believe there was a lot of support for anschluss after ww1,long before hitler.

[Ikus13]

Sad for those who died the day before. :(

[ItsMe490]

what a day! Still goosebumps and tears in my eyes...

[DamnControl2]

I wish Korea will be as one as they had been before.

[bjnboy]

If North Korea enters into a new war, that may be sooner than you think. However, many in the South are nervous about reunification because that would see much economic hardship placed upon the country, as what happened with Germany.

I also wish to see the reunification of India (Pakistan, Bangladesh and Burma), the Netherlands and Romania and Moldova.

[Skoda130]

Reunification of the Netherlands???? The Netherlands IS one!!

[bjnboy]

Acutally, it isn't.

Flanders was once part of the Netherlands and it has been divided twice.

The Greater Netherlands would comprise of the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the French region of Nord-Pas de Calais.

[Skoda130]

If you are going to dig in history like that, you might as well say that the whole world should be one country.

[bjnboy]

Not really. I would mind some countries uniting if it meas forming a benegficial, symbiotic union (eg. - Canada, U.S. and Mexico).

Flanders was split from the Netherlands in 1830, I don't think it'll be a big deal if they were to unite. Just as how I don't think it would be a big deal if Germany and Austria were to unite.

[Skoda130]

Probably.. But if it's no big deal, it probably isn't very interesting too. The split of east and west Germany was experienced by people as being repressive and divisive.. I don't think such sentiments play a role anymore regarding the division between the Netherlands and Belgium, who, by the way are both represented in the EU. There has been too many generations born after the split. That has taken away a lot of the public significance.

[bjnboy]

A union with Flanders has not been a political issue in the Netherlands and it is not on the agenda of any political party, but an August 21, 2007 poll indicates that 2/3 of the population would welcome union with Flanders.

A good bit of Flemish people also support it.

[Skoda130]

I don't know which source's you've read, but actually it was more like 1/3 of the people. The number was 40%. And such a reunification would be rather symbolic, because wer're both in the EU, that is heading slowly towards being a superstate.

[bjnboy]

You're Dutch?

I don't think the EU should be a superstate.

[Skoda130]

Indeed I am.. :-)

Well, maybe not overnight, but eventually we'll either be a superstate, or we'll fall apart completely. But since we need to form an economic block against contry's like Russia, and against the background of the US fading away economically, we better do NOT fall apart. We'll need a good strong centralized defense plan for the future. The bottom of the oildrum is in sight, and that's going to cause trouble, with Russia claiming the entire North-Pole area.

[bjnboy]

I'd LOVE to visit your country! Have you met any of the Royals, like Prince Willem-Alexander?

I agree, Russian expansion must be stopped. You knw, I never understood the Russians. Rather than work together with the U.S. and Europe like brothers and sisters, they isolate themselves and always work to throw a wrench in the works (Georgia, Ukraine).

One more thing, by the looks of things you will be getting an new Prime Minister soon... Geert Wilders! He will change things for the better.

[Skoda130]

You're welcome.. No, Geert Wilders won't change things for the better. If he would be Prime minister, he will make a clown out of himself, because he can't do much, since he has to coöperate with two other contemporaries. And he wants to isolate the Netherlands from the EU. Wilders is a fool. And about the royals: I don;t really care about them.

They're in fact just the PR department of the Netherlands, without any real power.

[Skoda130]

The best way to deal with Wilders is to let himself actually be a part of the government, so people will get a fair chance to get disappointed about him.

[vdven]

the Netherlands isn't united. There is the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the former Spanish/ Austrian/ Southern Netherlands (Belgium).

[Skoda130]

If you go back ijn history far enough, no single country is ever united.

[Skoda130]

I hope so too.. But north Korea is far more docked up than the GDR/DDR ever was.. Kim Il Sung (if he's still alive :S) has a very powerfull grip on "his" people.

But I share your hopes. It's so inhumane over there.. :-(

[DamnControl2]

Yap, I watched this documentary on youtube about N. K. and how life cycles there.

[trokoro]

In fact the German Federation is a liberal democracy so there is no problem if another state joins the Federation the same way as happens in the U.S.

[trokoro]

Reunification will not take place until Austria becomes a member state of the Federation. Currently Austria and Germany share the same currency, language, borders and political and economic systems...so there are much less differences between Austria and former West German Lander than between former DDR Lander and former West German Lander. Reunification will take place during the next decade without any doubt...

[DavBlc7]

Austria and Germany joined together is not allowed - When the war was over - The Allies restored Austria and UN then made a law making reunification impossible so to prevent the return of Nazis.

[trokoro]

Nazis cannot return because Communism is over and Fascism was a propaganda machine to face Communism. It was financed by the industry, the church and the aristocracy. Even Henry Ford and Tom Watson (founder of IBM) supported the Nazis. Now Communism is over, so there is no possibility of return of Nazism, Fascism or whatever. We are in a different part of History. And of course, if Austrians decide to join the rest of Germany nobody can stop that as former East Germans know.

[fashion10390]

i was born on that historic day!

[ajk9204]

not bad!

[Hairysteed]

Wow! Great timing! :D

[cutthroooat]

@fashion10390 Well happy birthday then! :-)

[Hyugadani]

@fashion10390 :D

[SchwarzeProminence]

Such a historic event!

Germany is a great country again!