die  Wiedervereinigung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈviːdɐfɛʁˌaɪ̯nɪɡʊŋ/

📜 What does 'die Wiedervereinigung' mean?

Die Wiedervereinigung translates to reunification. It signifies the process or event where separated parts (e.g., states, organizations, families) are brought back together into a single unit.

In the specific German context, die Wiedervereinigung almost exclusively refers to the German reunification (deutsche Wiedervereinigung or deutsche Einheit) on October 3, 1990, when the German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany) joined the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG or West Germany).

It is a feminine noun. The article is always 'die'. ⚠️ Be aware: Although it describes a process, in German, it often refers to the specific final state or the historical event itself.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📚 Grammar of 'Wiedervereinigung' in Detail

The word 'Wiedervereinigung' is a feminine noun. The article is 'die'. It is mostly used in the singular form, as it often refers to a specific, singular event (the German reunification). A plural form ('Wiedervereinigungen') is grammatically possible but rare, referring to multiple, different reunification processes.

Declension Singular

Declension Plural - Rare

📝 Example Sentences

1. Die Wiedervereinigung Deutschlands fand 1990 statt.
   (The reunification of Germany took place in 1990.)
2. Wir feiern den Jahrestag der Wiedervereinigung.
   (We celebrate the anniversary of the reunification.)
3. Nach der Wiedervereinigung änderte sich vieles.
   (A lot changed after the reunification.)
4. Die Menschen erlebten die Wiedervereinigung mit großer Freude.
   (The people experienced the reunification with great joy.)
5. Manche Historiker untersuchen verschiedene Wiedervereinigungen in der Weltgeschichte. (Plural example, rare)
   (Some historians study various reunifications in world history.)

🗣️ Usage in Context: Die Wiedervereinigung

The term die Wiedervereinigung is predominantly used in historical and political contexts in German, almost always referring to the German unification of 1990.

• Historical Context: Describing the end of the division of Germany and the Cold War in Europe.
• Political Context: Discussions about the political, social, and economic consequences of reunification.
• Everyday Language: Less common for the reunion of families or groups; more specific terms like 'Familienzusammenführung' (family reunion) or simply 'Wiedersehen' (seeing each other again) are often used instead.

Difference from 'Vereinigung' (Unification): While 'Vereinigung' generally means coming together or merging, 'Wiedervereinigung' emphasizes the re-joining of something that was previously separated. In the German context, 'Wiedervereinigung' is the more specific and common term for the 1990 event, although 'Vereinigung' or 'deutsche Einheit' (German unity) are also used.

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

↔️ Synonyms and Antonyms

Similar, potentially misleading words:

• Vereinigung: Can also mean other unions or associations (e.g., of clubs), not just of states.
• Einigung: Can also mean an agreement or compromise.

😂 A Little Joke

Frage: Was war das Positivste an der Wiedervereinigung?

Antwort: Der Plus-Pol kam endlich wieder mit dem Minus-Pol zusammen! 😉

Translation:

Question: What was the most positive thing about reunification?

Answer: The positive pole finally got back together with the negative pole! 😉 (A pun on electrical poles and the political poles of East/West)

📜 Poem about Reunification

Mauern fielen, Grenzen schwanden,
zwei Teile sich zusammenfanden.
Was lang getrennt, nun eins und frei,
die Wiedervereinigung kam herbei.
Ein Volk in Jubel, Hand in Hand,
vereint im deutschen Vaterland.

Translation:

Walls fell, borders vanished,
two parts found each other.
What long was separate, now one and free,
the reunification came to be.
A people in joy, hand in hand,
united in the German fatherland.

🧩 Little Riddle

Ich brachte Ost und West zusammen,
ließ Freudentränen neu entflammen.
Ein Datum im Oktober stolz,
beendete der Teilung Holz.
Ein 'Wieder' steht vor meinem Namen,
als zwei Hälften heimwärts kamen.

Was bin ich? Die Antwort: Die Wiedervereinigung

Translation:

I brought East and West together,
let tears of joy ignite anew.
A date in October, proud,
ended the division's wood [idiomatic: ended the division].
A 'Wieder' (again) stands before my name,
as two halves homeward came.

What am I? The answer: Die Wiedervereinigung (Reunification)

ℹ️ Other Information

Word Composition: The word 'Wiedervereinigung' is a compound noun, composed of:

• Wieder- (Prefix, meaning: again, re-)
• Vereinigung (Noun, derived from 'vereinen', meaning: to unite, unification)

Historical Significance: The Tag der Deutschen Einheit (Day of German Unity) on October 3rd is Germany's national holiday, commemorating the reunification.

International Perspective: German reunification had far-reaching consequences for Europe and the global political landscape, notably marking a key moment in the end of the Cold War.