The male friend from Königs Wusterhausen: A life for justice!

The male friend from Königs Wusterhausen: A life for justice!

Gerald Trotsky is a name that brings back many memories in Königs Wusterhausen. The 69-year-old, who became known in this city as the former head of the GDR criminal investigation department, experienced ups and downs throughout his life that shaped him. His path took him through the challenges of the GDR, through the turbulent reunification period and finally to a life as a voluntary legal advisor for the people in his homeland. Trotsky, now valued for his valuable support of senior citizens, also traces his own history, which is closely linked to the communist past.

Trotsky grew up in the 1960s as one of five children and lost his father at an early age. After an apprenticeship as an engine fitter, he finally found his way to the People's Police, where he started as a sergeant. In the mid-1970s he completed a degree in criminology and was particularly concerned with juvenile crime before becoming head of the police station. Trotsky emphasizes that he never sent a child or young person to one of the dreaded youth work centers, even though these institutions in the GDR were known for their strict and often cruel educational methods.

Youth workshops in the GDR: insight into a dark past

In the GDR, children who were considered “difficult to educate” were placed in youth workshops whose aim was to re-educate them into “socialist personalities”. evangelische-zeitung.de reports that the conditions in these facilities were often inhumane. Many young people suffered violence and abuse. The youth work centers were strictly monitored and isolated in order to deprive the young people of any opportunity to escape.

In the years before the fall of the Wall, there were a total of 32 youth workshops in the GDR, including closed facilities like the one in Torgau, where hundreds of young people lived under extreme conditions. According to official information, there were many reports of ill-treatment, which caused significant psychological and physical suffering to former inmates. Wikipedia states that the first facility was opened shortly after the Second World War and the number of admissions increased over the years.

A new life after the fall of communism

After the fall of communism there came a time of upheaval for Trotsky. He left the police because he could not identify with the new structures and took up a position as a security officer in the private sector. But fate wasn't kind to him: Hepatitis C, which he caught through blood donations at officer school, led to serious health problems. In 2006 he received a liver transplant, which gave him a new chance in life.

During this phase he met a legal guardian who paved the way for him to become a volunteer. Today Trotsky cares for people who are no longer able to manage their own affairs, mostly elderly citizens, for whom he applies for social assistance. He describes his voluntary work as enriching; He has already buried over 40 people.

He usually spends Christmas with his family in Senzig, where he appreciates the contemplative time with his loved ones. Trotsky's life story is an impressive testimony to the challenges and upheavals that shaped both individual destinies and German history as a whole. His commitment to the community shows how important humanity and fairness are, even in difficult times.