Daylight saving time in Germany
Encyclopedia
Daylight saving time
was first introduced during World War I
by the German Empire
in the years 1916 to 1918. After the end of the war and the proclamation of the Weimar Republic
in November 1918, daylight saving time ceased to be observed in peace time.
Daylight saving time was reintroduced by the Nazi
s in 1940, during World War II
, in an attempt to save energy for the war economy
. After the defeat of Germany, DST was retained by the occupation powers. In 1945, Berlin
and the Soviet Occupation Zone even observed Central European Midsummer Time
(Mitteleuropäische Hochsommerzeit, MEHSZ; UTC+03:00); in 1947, all of Germany switched to midsummer time from 11 May to 29 June. After the Federal Republic (West Germany) and the German Democratic Republic
(East Germany) were established in 1949, daylight saving time again ceased to be observed in 1950.
In 1978, West Germany decided to re-introduce DST, following the example set by several neighbouring states in the aftermath of the 1973 oil crisis
. However, it only came into effect in 1980, after West and East Germany reached an agreement to simultaneously observe DST from the last Sunday in March (02:00 CET) to the last Sunday in September (03:00 CEST). Therefore, both German states observed the same time until the German re-unification in 1990, after which the re-unified Germany retained the laws and thus also the Time Act (Zeitgesetz) of West Germany.
In 1996, daylight saving time was harmonized throughout the European Union
by Directive 2000/84/EC, which moved the end of DST to the last Sunday in October.
), MESZ = CEST (Central European Summer Time
) , MEHSZ = CEDST (Central European Double Summer Time)
remainder
whole Germany:
Soviet zone
remainder
Daylight saving time
Daylight saving time —also summer time in several countries including in British English and European official terminology —is the practice of temporarily advancing clocks during the summertime so that afternoons have more daylight and mornings have less...
was first introduced during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
by the German Empire
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
in the years 1916 to 1918. After the end of the war and the proclamation of the Weimar Republic
Weimar Republic
The Weimar Republic is the name given by historians to the parliamentary republic established in 1919 in Germany to replace the imperial form of government...
in November 1918, daylight saving time ceased to be observed in peace time.
Daylight saving time was reintroduced by the Nazi
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
s in 1940, during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, in an attempt to save energy for the war economy
War economy
War economy is the term used to describe the contingencies undertaken by the modern state to mobilise its economy for war production. Philippe Le Billon describes a war economy as a "system of producing, mobilising and allocating resources to sustain the violence".Many states increase the degree of...
. After the defeat of Germany, DST was retained by the occupation powers. In 1945, Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
and the Soviet Occupation Zone even observed Central European Midsummer Time
Central European Midsummer Time
Central European Midsummer Time is one of the names of UTC+03:00 time zone, 3 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time.It was used as a double summer daylight saving time in several European countries during the 1940s.- France :...
(Mitteleuropäische Hochsommerzeit, MEHSZ; UTC+03:00); in 1947, all of Germany switched to midsummer time from 11 May to 29 June. After the Federal Republic (West Germany) and the German Democratic Republic
German Democratic Republic
The German Democratic Republic , informally called East Germany by West Germany and other countries, was a socialist state established in 1949 in the Soviet zone of occupied Germany, including East Berlin of the Allied-occupied capital city...
(East Germany) were established in 1949, daylight saving time again ceased to be observed in 1950.
In 1978, West Germany decided to re-introduce DST, following the example set by several neighbouring states in the aftermath of the 1973 oil crisis
1973 oil crisis
The 1973 oil crisis started in October 1973, when the members of Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries or the OAPEC proclaimed an oil embargo. This was "in response to the U.S. decision to re-supply the Israeli military" during the Yom Kippur war. It lasted until March 1974. With the...
. However, it only came into effect in 1980, after West and East Germany reached an agreement to simultaneously observe DST from the last Sunday in March (02:00 CET) to the last Sunday in September (03:00 CEST). Therefore, both German states observed the same time until the German re-unification in 1990, after which the re-unified Germany retained the laws and thus also the Time Act (Zeitgesetz) of West Germany.
In 1996, daylight saving time was harmonized throughout the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
by Directive 2000/84/EC, which moved the end of DST to the last Sunday in October.
List
MEZ = CET (Central European TimeCentral European Time
Central European Time , used in most parts of the European Union, is a standard time that is 1 hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time . The time offset from UTC can be written as +01:00...
), MESZ = CEST (Central European Summer Time
Central European Summer Time
Central European Summer Time is one of the names of the Daylight saving time offset using the UTC offset of UTC+02:00, 2 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. It is used as a summer daylight saving time in most European countries. During the winter, Central European Time is used...
) , MEHSZ = CEDST (Central European Double Summer Time)
1916–1918
- 30.04.1916 23:00 MEZ – 01.10.1916 01:00 MESZ
- 16.04.1917 02:00 MEZ – 17.09.1917 03:00 MESZ
- 15.04.1918 02:00 MEZ – 16.09.1918 03:00 MESZ
1940–1944
- 01.04.1940 02:00 MEZ – 31.12.1940 24:00 MESZ / until end of year
- 01.01.1941 00:00 MESZ – 31.12.1941 24:00 MESZ / whole year
- 01.01.1942 00:00 MESZ – 02.11.1942 03:00 MESZ
- 29.03.1943 02:00 MEZ – 04.10.1943 03:00 MESZ
- 03.04.1944 02:00 MEZ – 02.10.1944 03:00 MESZ
1945–1949
Berlin and Soviet zone- 24.05.1945 02:00 MEZ – 24.09.1945 03:00 MEHSZ
- 24.09.1945 03:00 MEHSZ – 18.11.1945 03:00 MESZ
remainder
- 02.04.1945 02:00 MEZ – 16.09.1945 02:00 MESZ
whole Germany:
- 14.04.1946 02:00 MEZ – 07.10.1946 03:00 MESZ
- 06.04.1947 03:00 MEZ – 11.05.1947 03:00 MESZ
- 11.05.1947 03:00 MESZ – 29.06.1947 03:00 MEHSZ
Soviet zone
- 18.04.1948 03:00 MEZ – 03.10.1948 03:00 MESZ
- 10.04.1949 03:00 MEZ – 02.10.1949 03:00 MESZ
remainder
- 18.04.1948 02:00 MEZ – 03.10.1948 03:00 MESZ
- 10.04.1949 02:00 MEZ – 02.10.1949 03:00 MESZ
After 1980
West and East Germany, since 1991 reunified Germany: Central European Summer TimeCentral European Summer Time
Central European Summer Time is one of the names of the Daylight saving time offset using the UTC offset of UTC+02:00, 2 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. It is used as a summer daylight saving time in most European countries. During the winter, Central European Time is used...