The slogan “Wir sind das Volk,” meaning “We are the people,” became associated with East German protests against one-party rule in 1989.
Demonstrators used the phrase to assert that political authority should come from the population rather than from the Socialist Unity Party leadership. It was especially prominent in the Monday demonstrations that began in Leipzig and spread to other East German cities.
The slogan expressed a demand for representation, civil rights, and public participation. Later, as national reunification became more prominent, some protesters used “Wir sind ein Volk,” or “We are one people,” a related but distinct phrase. The two slogans are often confused because both appeared during the peaceful revolution. “Wir sind das Volk” emphasized popular sovereignty and opposition to the regime, while the later wording placed greater emphasis on German national unity.