At the end of every October, people in Germany experience a small “jet lag” as the country switches from daylight saving time back to standard time—commonly referred to as winter time.
In 2025, the change will occur on the night of Saturday, October 25 to Sunday, October 26. At 3:00 a.m. the clocks will be set back one hour, giving everyone an extra hour of sleep.
Earlier this year, summer time began on March 30, 2025, when clocks were moved forward by one hour. The October change restores the lost hour, aligning the country again with Central European Time (CET).
Do the clocks move forward or back?
In autumn, clocks are turned back one hour. Many people still find the change confusing, so a few memory aids can help:
- In spring, you move chairs forward to the patio; in autumn, you move them back indoors.
- “Winter means hibernation”: one extra hour of sleep.
- Winter temperatures fall below zero (back), summer climbs above (forward).
- In English: “Spring forward, Fall back.”
Historical context: from dozens of local times to one national system
Until the late 19th century, Germany had no unified time system. More than 60 different local times existed, each based on the solar noon of its city.
Church bells announced the hour, but noon in Hamburg could differ significantly from noon in Munich.
Only with the rise of railways and industrialization was standardized time introduced nationwide.
Why do we change the clocks at all?
The modern system of daylight saving time was introduced in much of Europe in 1977, with Germany following in 1980, partly in response to the 1973 oil crisis.
The idea was to make better use of daylight and save energy.
However, studies from Germany’s Environment Agency show that while lighting costs decrease, heating demand in colder mornings increases, leaving overall energy savings minimal.
Legal framework
The time change is regulated by the “Einheiten- und Zeitgesetz” (Units and Time Act), which empowers the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Technology to define official measurement and time standards in Germany.
Alongside timekeeping, the law also covers measurements ranging from gemstone weights to blood pressure units.
Do you need to change your clocks manually?
For many devices, the answer is no.
Radio-controlled clocks, train station clocks, and telecom systems all receive their time signal from the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) in Braunschweig.
Television and digital radios synchronize via transmitters in Mainflingen, Hesse.
Smartphones adjust automatically if the “set time automatically” option is enabled in system settings (under Date & Time on both Android and iOS).
For analog clocks, ovens, or older devices, however, a manual change may still be needed.
Outlook
The EU has debated ending seasonal time changes for years, but no final decision has been reached.
For now, the practice continues—and in October 2025, Germany will once again “gain” an extra hour as the clocks move back.
