North Rhine-Westphalia Celebrates 80 Years Since Post-War Founding

North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), one of Germany's most populous states, is celebrating its 80th anniversary this Sunday. The state was officially founded on August 23, 1946, by the British military administration, a year after the conclusion of World War II, through what was codenamed 'Operation Marriage.' This operation dissolved provinces of the former Prussian state and established the new entity.

To commemorate this milestone, NRW is hosting a large-scale public celebration, the 'NRW-Tag,' in the city of Münster. The festival, running from Friday to Sunday (August 28-30), carries the motto 'Democracy Lives. Diversity Connects.' The event promises a diverse program, including concerts on the Cathedral and Palace squares, and presentations by various organizations from the police and emergency services to sports and tourism sectors.

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Democracy Lives. Diversity Connects.

Festivities officially commence on Saturday morning with an opening ceremony at the Aasee lake, featuring key state officials including Deputy Minister-President Mona Neubaur and State Parliament President André Kuper. The evening will include a performance by the Philharmonie Südwestfalen on the Palace square. For the public, all events on Saturday and Sunday are free and accessible without tickets. Additionally, public transport within Münster will be free for visitors throughout the festival weekend.

The creation of NRW was a significant post-war administrative decision aimed at reorganizing the region. The 80th-anniversary celebrations underscore the state's modern identity and its commitment to democratic values and diversity, reflecting on its historical origins while looking towards the future.

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Under the codename 'Operation Marriage' (Operation Wedding), the British military government decided on August 23, 1946, to dissolve the provinces of the former state of Prussia and thus gave birth to the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.