50 years of the referendum: Baden remains part of Baden-Württemberg!

50 years of the referendum: Baden remains part of Baden-Württemberg!

June 7, 2025 marks the 55th anniversary of the referendum in Baden-Württemberg, a decision that had a decisive impact on the region's political landscape. This referendum, which took place in 1970, asked the people of Baden whether they wanted to stay in the merged state of Baden-Württemberg or become independent again. The result was clear: 81.9% of voters voted to remain in the new federal state, while only 18.1% voted to return to independence. Historian Wolfgang Hug emphasizes that this clearly expressed the will of the population. The economic strength of Baden-Württemberg played a decisive role in the vote, as the region already boasted a superior economic performance, achieving industrial sales of 45.8 billion German marks in Württemberg alone in 1969, while Baden only achieved 32.6 billion German marks. Such figures contributed to the fact that only 18% of Baden residents wanted to return to self-employment.

In the run-up to the vote in 1970, the young state government had strongly promoted remaining in Baden-Württemberg, which was supported by clever marketing and the right approach to the population. It was not the first referendum on the issue; Baden-Württemberg was founded as early as 1951 under pressure from the occupying powers and the political landscape. However, this first vote, which took place in four districts, was controversial: if the people of Baden had been allowed to vote as a whole, there would have been a narrow majority against the unification.

Historical events on June 7th

June 7th is also a date steeped in history. In 2005, Siemens completely divested itself of its cell phone business, affecting 6,000 jobs, and the brand was subsequently acquired by Taiwanese company BenQ. The renaming of the Federal Chancellery to a Ministry of Defense took place as early as 1955, when Theodor Blank became the first Defense Minister. The move by the Norwegian Storting to dissolve the union with Sweden, which was decided more than a century ago, and the founding of the association of expressionist artists “Die Brücke” in Dresden in 1905 are also significant events of the past that took place on this day.

Birthdays and anniversaries of death

June 7th is also the day on which many celebrities celebrate their birthdays. The famous British artist Damien Hirst turns 60, the journalist Steffen Seibert turns 65, while the Austrian politician Wolfgang Schüssel turns 80. British pop singer Tom Jones is also celebrating his 85th birthday. Sadly, there is a day of remembrance for Christopher Lee, who died in 2015 and was known for his unforgettable roles as an actor.

Overall, June 7th showcases a variety of historical, cultural and personal events that shape both individual and collective memory.