Was I right in my book “Lessons in Diplomacy: Politics, Power and Parties” to refer to a “Tag der Deutschen Einheit” (Day of German Unity) concert at the Philips Halle in Düsseldorf on 17 June 1981?
Tag der deutschen Einheit: a query
Authors love to hear from readers, especially when the latter are polite. Knowing someone has read your book is wonderful. Finding that they have read it with enough interest to pick up a possible error is better still.
So I was delighted to get the following e-mail from a German reader in January 2026:
“Hello Mr. Leigh,
I am just reading „lessons in diplomacy“ and was wondering if the concert you attended on 17th June 1981 can be a „Tag der Deutschen Einheit“ concert, as this day exists only since 03rd October 1990. from what I found the name was „Konzert zur Einheit der Nation“. Best, L”
On the Dutch coast six months before 17.6.1981
Tag der deutschen Einheit: the text
The reference to the “Tag der deutschen Einheit” in the text of Lessons in Diplomacy: Politics, Power and Parties reads as follows:
- On 17 June 1981, I attended a Tag der Deutschen Einheit (Day of German Unity) concert at the Philips Halle in Düsseldorf. Four bands played, including Düsseldorf’s own DAF (standing for Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft or German-American Friendship) and Fehlfarben. The evening was raucous and violent: when punks invaded the stage, I joined them. When it comes to weird Dadaist nihilist punk, the Germans excel. A band called German-American Friendship, singing songs about political violence on a holiday to mark the Day of German Unity? You couldn’t make it up.
I continue that in 1981 I couldn’t imagine East and West Germany ever being united; that I was utterly wrong; and that we should always bear in mind that our predictive powers may be dodgy (hubristic politicians, please take note!)
Research
When I wrote my book I did much research. My editor at Bristol University Press then did more, picking up several errors. For example she pointed out that the “German-Russian Museum” in Berlin had changed its name to the “Museum Berlin-Karlshorst”.
So when my reader questioned the title of the concert I had attended in 1981, I was a bit bemused. Scouring the internet, I found a useful page on Wikipedia (in German: see the heading “Bundesrepublik Deutschland”). It says that from 1954-1990 West Germany designated the 17th of June the “Tag der deutschen Einheit” (Day of German Unity) to commemorate a 1953 uprising on that day in East Germany against the Communist authorities. Thus, the concert probably was indeed a “Tag der deutschen Einheit” event. But I might have inaccurately capitalised the word “deutschen”.
Tag der deutschen Einheit: more research
I then re-consulted the diary I kept in the 1980s. I found my original ticket (below). This seems conclusive. It also lists all the bands.
I also found my 1981 account of the evening. It includes the following:
- With Ri and Bri [two lovely German friends] to the Philipshalle for a concert by no less than four German (!) New Wave-ish bands. Quite an occasion, vsp on the crowdwatching front with myriad beauteous/hideous creatures in all manner of punk, pseudo-punk and neo-mod outfits. ‘Too much confusion…’ Wirtschaftswunder on first, punkish but dull; Fehlfarben pretty good, although having trouble from the crowd, first with punks climbing onto the virtually undefended stage and pushing the puny lead singer, later/throughout with various missiles etc being thrown onto stage – most notably a beakerfull of mustard which entirely drenched the lead guitarist. They stuck it out, though. Between them and Palais Schaumberg some dubious dancing girls came on… crowd disapproved, a little punk girl kept climbing on and dancing with, and when… the (one or two) bouncers hauled her off, the whole stage was instantly filled with menacing punks – astonishing, cf ‘White Riot’ [song by British punks The Clash, in 1977]. Order gradually returned… and Palais Schaumberg came on. My faves – fine music, adventurous – but really young band, didn’t feel good when the punks came on stage, had trouble. Lasted out their time. Then DAF – Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft – started, a singer, a drummer and a cassette player supplying guitarists etc – still feel this is cheating… By now, dozens of people up on stage, I doubting if concert could proceed. But the lead singer oblivious to numerous punks – heavy rhythm, much dancing around, eventually dancing in, with and among the punks on stage. At this, all broke loose, literally hundreds of people climbed on, the stage enveloped in a squirming phalanx of enthusiastic audience. I also took a turn onstage for a closer look… Spectacular end to the concert; quite an evening. Back home via Krefeld, not too late (1.15-sh) to bed.
Stories from the Philips Halle
I also found an elegiac 2018 piece in the “Westdeutsche Zeitung” (in German) about the Philips Halle. If you scroll down to the “Kleine Chronik” there’s a reference to the 17 June 1981 concert. The piece also says “Kraftwerk” held their first concert in the same venue four days earlier, on 13 June 1981. Sorry I missed that.
What to do next
I’m grateful to everyone who has read Lessons in Diplomacy. It’s available from good bookshops, or from Amazon, as a hardback, a paperback and a good e-book. The latter makes the most of the rather entertaining index by linking all the references to the relevant text. Do have a look. You can check out all my books on this site.
With “Lessons in Diplomacy” at the Tropic of Capricorn in Chile
