Republic Day () was an official holiday in

East Germany East Germany, officially known as the German Democratic Republic (GDR), was a country in Central Europe from Foundation of East Germany, its formation on 7 October 1949 until German reunification, its reunification with West Germany (FRG) on ...

, celebrated annually on 7 October from 1949 to 1989. Republic Day commemorates the anniversary of the establishment of the German Democratic Republic on 7 October 1949. On Republic Day, the Government of the GDR awarded many people the National Award of the GDR.

Background

The day commemorates 7 October 1949, when the German Democratic Republic was constituted on the territory of the

Soviet Occupation Zone The Soviet occupation zone in Germany ( or , ; ) was an area of Germany that was occupied by the Soviet Union as a communist area, established as a result of the Potsdam Agreement on 2 August 1945. On 7 October 1949 the German Democratic Republ ...

, almost half a year after the founding of the

Federal Republic of Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen constituent states have a total population of over 84 ...

after the adoption of the

Basic Law A basic law is either a codified constitution, or in countries with uncodified constitutions, a law designed to have the effect of a constitution. The term ''basic law'' is used in some places as an alternative to "constitution" and may be inte ...

on 23 May 1949. It was immediately led by a government formed by the ruling communist party, known locally as the

Socialist Unity Party of Germany The Socialist Unity Party of Germany (, ; SED, ) was the founding and ruling party of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) from the country's foundation in 1949 until its dissolution after the Peaceful Revolution in 1989. It was a Mar ...

(SED) (formed in April 1946). This solidified the 1945

division of Germany Division may refer to: Mathematics *Division (mathematics), the inverse of multiplication *Division algorithm, a method for computing the result of mathematical division Military *Division (military), a formation typically consisting of 10,000 to ...

and the two states' different political systems. The first major celebrations took place in 1959 on the GDR's 10th anniversary. It was replaced in 1990 by

German Unity Day German Unity Day (, ) is the national day of Germany, celebrated on 3 October as a public holiday. It commemorates German Reunification in 1990 when the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) joined the Federal Republic of Germany (West Ger ...

, which is today celebrated on 3 October, four days before the GDR's Republic Day.

Celebrations in the GDR

On the occasion of the Day of the Republic, special stamps were issued every five years for the State Birthday of the GDR. Since the 1970s, the day became more and more the people's holiday, without the demonstrations, but with folk festival character. In 1976, the Palace of the Republic was opened on republic day. On Republic Day in 1977, violent clashes between the People's Police and young people took place on Alexanderplatz in Berlin. They shouted slogans like "Down with the GDR!" Or "Give Peace a Chance" and many of whom were arrested and sentenced.

Military parade

The East German government has always held a Republic Day parade on

Karl-Marx-Allee Karl-Marx-Allee () is a boulevard built by East Germany between 1952 and 1960 in Berlin Friedrichshain and Mitte. Today the boulevard is named after the German philosopher Karl Marx. It should not be confused with the Karl-Marx-Straße station ...

(between Alexanderplatz and Strausberger Platz) since its 10th anniversary in 1959. The most prominent Republic Day celebrations have taken place in 1974, 1979 and 1989, at the 25th, 30th and 40th anniversaries respectively. Since this military presence was in contrast to Berlin's Four Powers status, the military parades led regularly to protest notes of the Western Powers. The last military parade took place in 1989. Also a fleet review of the

Volksmarine The (VM, ; ) was the Navy, naval force of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) from 1956 to 1990. The was one of the service branches of the National People's Army and primarily performed a Coastal defence and fortification, coastal defence ...

took place. The parade had been always led by the parade commander who had the rank of a Colonel General and the position of Chief of the Land Forces. From 1972, when that post was created, up to 1989, that was held by Col Gen Horst Stechbarth, who was the parade commander during those years. After his arrival and the report of the superintendent of the Friedrich Engels Military Academy, he took his post nearest the Massed Bands of the

Military Music Service of the National People's Army The Military Music Service of the National People's Army (Militärischer Musikdienst der Nationale Volksarmee in German language, German) was made up of the Military Bands of the ''Nationale Volksarmee'' and the Corps of Drums of the Military Mu ...

and the Corps of Drums of the Central Band of the NPA. At 10 am, after the arrival of state and political leaders, the bells ring and the bands sounded a fanfare, after which the parade commander had ordered the parade to present arms and eyes left as it rendered honors to the Minister of Defence, a position held by a General of the Army. As the bands were playing the ''Präsentiermarsch der Nationalen Volksarmee'' the PC and the Minister of Defense salute as their automobiles approached each other and the bands paused, with the former reporting of the readiness of the troops for the parade. The music was then resumed at the signal of the Drum Major of the Massed Bands and the Band Conductors, and the PC and the Minister first inspected the mobile column, then the bands and lastly the ground column. After the inspection, the vehicle of the parade commander returned to his first position as the Minister's vehicle stopped in order that he would depart the said vehicle and then proceed to the reviewing stand to inform the General Secretary of the SED and President of the Council of State on the readiness of the parade to march past. Following the report, the national anthem ''

Auferstanden aus Ruinen "" (; 'Risen from the Ruins') was the national anthem of East Germany. Background In 1949, the Soviet occupation zone of Allied-occupied Germany became a socialist state under the name of the "German Democratic Republic" (GDR). For the new sta ...

'' was played, after which the parade commander ordered the parade to prepare for the march past in quick time, first to the tune of ''Marsch der Elisabether'' as the bands position for the march past, and later, following the fifes and drums, to the tune of the ''Parademarsch № 1 der Nationalen Volksarmee'' as the bands march in position in front of the grandstand.

Republic Day Grand Tattoo

The traditional German ''

Großer Zapfenstreich The ("Grand Tattoo", "Beating Retreat") is a military ceremony performed in Germany and Austria. It is similar to the military tattoo ceremony performed in English-speaking countries, and is the most important ceremonial act executed by the Ger ...

'' ("Grand Tattoo") military

ceremony A ceremony (, ) is a unified ritualistic event with a purpose, usually consisting of a number of artistic components, performed on a special occasion. The word may be of Etruscan language, Etruscan origin, via the Latin . Religious and civil ...

was held on Republic Day in the evening. It was made official in 1981 after it was introduced in 1962 and was updated from the Prussian version, to adjust for the addition of "elements of the progressive military inheritance" which included Soviet compositions and a medley of German and international working-class songs and marches. It also included a torchlight procession, an opening fanfare, and the presentation of the NVA Colors. The composition of the Grand Tattoo from 1962 to 1989 was as follows: * Central Band of the NVA (with specialized fanfare section and 2 Timpanis) * Corps of Drums *

Friedrich Engels Guard Regiment The Friedrich Engels Guards Regiment (also known as NVA Guard Regiment 1) was a Honor guard, special guard unit of the Land Forces of the National People's Army. The regiment was named after Friedrich Engels, the German socialist that collaborated ...

Ceremonial Unit * Company of sailors of the Volksmarine * NVA

Colour guard In military organizations, a colour guard (or color guard) is a detachment of soldiers assigned to the protection of regimental colours and the national flag. This duty is highly prestigious, and the military colour is generally carried by a yo ...

* Torchbearers

Gallery

File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-N1007-0009, Berlin, 25. Jahrestag DDR-Gründung, Parade.jpg, File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-N1007-0311, Berlin, 25. Jahrestag DDR-Gründung, Parade.jpg, File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-U1007-0007, Berlin, 30. Jahrestag DDR-Gründung, Parade.jpg, File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-U1007-0005, Berlin, 30. Jahrestag DDR-Gründung, Parade.jpg, File:Stamps of Germany (DDR) 1979, MiNr 2458.jpg, File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1989-1007-402, Berlin, 40. Jahrestag DDR-Gründung, Ehrengäste.jpg, File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1989-1007-068, Berlin, 40. Jahrestag der DDR, Empfang.jpg, File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1989-1007-031, Berlin, 40. Jahrestag DDR-Gründung, Parade.jpg,

References