The great and the good in Germany have launched the celebrations for six decades of freedom, 60 years after the adoption of the constitution which created the modern German state. President Horst Koehler reminded guests of the importance of a strong committment to freedom:

“Our citizens have given life to our Constitution. The constitution is a beacon of liberty. It gave the east Germans hope for the future.” The anniversary comes as new studies show Germans rediscovering a sense of patriotism and self-confidence after rejecting the military aggression of the early 20th century. For many, the unhappy past is just that – the past. A strong commitment to Europe has come to define the modern Germany. After 1945 politicians embraced the European project as a way to nurture the new system. Public support for the EU remains equally in tune with their leaders.More about: Anniversary, Germany

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