General information
The time change in Germany is regulated by the Time Act of July 25, 1978, as amended on September 13, 1994.Up to and including 2001, there were regular ordinances regulating the time change for the following years (e.g. ZeitVo of 1997).
According to the ordinance on the introduction of CEST, which has been in force since 2002, the Federal Ministry of the Interior announces the start and end of summer time for five consecutive years in the Federal Gazette.
Dates for the time changeover - summer time (CEST) & winter time (CET) in Germany
- At the start of summer time, the clocks are moved forward by one hour from 2 o'clock to 3 o'clock.
If you get up at 8 a.m. on standard time, it is now 9 a.m. on daylight saving time - you have "lost" an hour - At the end of summer time, the hour counter is set back by one hour from 3 o'clock to 2 o'clock.
If you get up at 8 a.m. after daylight saving time, it is now only 7 a.m. after standard time - so you have "gained" an hour
Technical terms
| CET | Central European Time |
| CEST | Central European Summer Time |
| UTC | Coordinated Universal Time |
The following relationships apply: CET = UTC + 1h, CEST = UTC + 2h.
The first hour from 2 o'clock to 3 o'clock that appears twice during the transition from CEST to CET is referred to as 2A and the second as 2B.
Finally, a mnemonic: In spring, the garden furniture is put outside (i.e. the clock is set one hour BEFORE). In the fall, you put it BACK in the shed or cellar. Therefore, the clock is also set back by 1 hour (from 3 am to 2 am).