Thirty years of German unity

Thirty years ago today, October 3, 1990, the German Democratic Republic ceased to exist and became part of the Federal Republic of Germany.

In other words, today Germany celebrates 30 years of unification.

In most respects it has been an outstanding success. 

The redevelopment of the East has been remarkable. 

The towns and cities have been transformed. Roads and railways have all been rebuilt, and in many cases built to a higher standard than in the West.

Berlin Hauptbahnhof, Berlin Main Rail Station was opened in May 2006 and serves more than 110 million passengers every year. It was designed by Hamburg firm, German, Marg and Partners.

The new rail station was built on the site of the former Lehrter Bahnhof, which was demolished in 1957.

Located across five levels, the station has floors as low as 15 metres underground and has platforms on bridges 10 metre above ground. 

Intercity and regional railway services operate from the station, in addition to international services that run as far as Novosibirsk in Russia.

S-Bahn and U-Bahn services also serve the station.

While shortly after  opening a number of glass panels were blown off in a high wind, it is still a wonder to behold.

People in the East are still paid less than their counterparts in the West. 

There is a feeling/belief felt by many in the East that they are victims. Hence the worrying growth of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) political party, which attracts votes from significant numbers of the electorate in the East.

Bonn, the provisional capital of the former West Germany, lost its status and Berlin became the capital of the united Germany. 

Though it was only in 1999 that Berlin adopted its full role as the home of the parliament and government of the Federal Republic of Germany.

The move from Bonn to Berlin cost approximately €10.2 billion.

Today the German parliament has returned to the old redeveloped Reichstag building, which means the home of the Bundestag is the Reichstag. There is an historical irony about that.

A lot of water has flown under the bridges of the river Spree in the last 30 years.

And maybe most ironic of all is the fact that British prime minister Boris Johnson speaks via video call today with the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in an attempt to clinch a deal between the EU and the United Kingdom.

There will be scaled-down celebrations in the city of Potsdam today.