Memory of the popular uprising: Memory in Prenzlau moves hearts

Memory of the popular uprising: Memory in Prenzlau moves hearts

In the Prenzlauer Seepark, a memorial event for the popular uprising of June 17, 1953 was held last weekend. The mayor of Prenzlau, Hendrik Sommer, and the chairman of the city council, Ludger Melters, reminded of the moving events in their speeches in which workers and citizens in the GDR rose against repression and economic hardship. The protest initially started against growing standards 72 years ago, but quickly developed into a nationwide uprising for freedom and democratic rights. Unfortunately, this uprising ended brutally when Soviet tanks intervened with all hardness. The GDR was quickly recognized as a dictatorship, supported by the intervention of 500,000 Soviet soldiers.

In his speech, Melters expressed how important it is to keep these historical memories awake. He also spoke about the personal distance he has to the GDR and the influence that history has on the city of Prenzlau. After the war, many citizens of the city fled to the West, a fact that still shapes the collective memory. Manfred Mäder, who was shot at the Berlin Wall in 1986 in 1986, was also thought of. Mäder and his companion fell victim to the shots of the GDR border soldiers during their experiments to cross the border; Both died tragically in this place.

a quiet moment of memory

A table on the unit square in Prenzlau is reminiscent of girls and its history. Melters emphasized the importance of remembering the victims of June 17th. June 17th was once the "Day of German Unity" in the former Federal Republic and has now changed to a commemoration day that is reminiscent of the courageous resistance of people in the GDR. In a quiet moment, the gathered also thought of the other victims who left their lives for their freedom.

Another important point that Melters spoke to was the deeper meaning of limits and its expression of power conditions. The mayor urged that peace was by no means a matter of course. These words were strongly resonated with those present, who remember the challenges that many people had to overcome decades ago.

The memorial event not only had a historical dimension, but also offered space for personal reflections by the citizens of Prenzlau. It is of central importance to keep the events of the past alive so that future generations can also learn from them. In the end, this is an appeal for peace and tolerance in today's society. Together, a better future is being sought based on the teachings of the past. The events around the popular uprising remain a powerful memory of the tireless struggle for freedom and justice.