Potsdam intends: the popular uprising from 1953 and its victims
Potsdam intends: the popular uprising from 1953 and its victims
Next Tuesday, June 17, 2025, the popular uprising from 1953 in the GDR with various memorial events will be commemorated in Potsdam and all of Brandenburg. The city of Potsdam and the state government have set themselves the goal of commemorating the victims of this bloody chapter of German history. Mayor Burkhard Exner will speak a greeting at the Lindenstrasse memorial at 3 p.m. In his speech, he will emphasize the importance of freedom and democratic values that are still very popular today.
The popular uprising had its roots on June 17, 1953 in over 700 municipalities, also in Potsdam itself. People rose against state arbitrariness and asked for better living conditions. The demonstrations that were initially initiated by workers quickly expanded to nationwide mass protests. On the other hand, the Soviet military and the People's Police violently intervene to put down the unrest, which is one of the bloodiest episodes in German history. According to the BPB , the most difficult arguments took place in cities such as East Berlin, Leipzig and Halle.
program and events
The deputy prime minister and finance minister Robert Crumbach will hold the memorial as part of the memorial events. In addition, the inclusive ensemble will perform the play "Square" and the saxophonist Christian Raake ensures the background music. Preparations for these memory celebrations are in full swing so that the day can be appreciated.according to the Tagesspiegel Brandenburg in more than 150 locations. After the popular uprising, the monitoring of the population increased by the Stasi, and around 215 people were arrested by state security in Potsdam. Many of them had to expect serious reprisals.
historical backgrounds and follow
People's uprising is often regarded as one of the few democratic mass movements in German history. The GDR had struggled with massive domestic problems since it was founded. High reparation payments to the Soviet Union, supply bottlenecks and an dissatisfied population were just a few of the factors that should lead to the nationwide protests. The Federal Archives illuminates the prehistory and the consequences of the failed uprising and offers a detailed analysis of events in the various regions of the GDR.
The decision of the SED to increase the work standards by ten percent led to resistance that resulted in the strikes on construction projects in East Berlin on June 15 and 16. On June 17, demonstrators gathered and not only demanded the resignation of the government, but also free and secret elections. More than a million people were involved in the protests that were violently suppressed.
The brutal suppression of the uprising led to at least 55 documented deaths and about 10,000 arrests within a few weeks. The dramatic events and their effects are still an important topic in political education, as the various events show.
June 17th remains a national day of commemoration, even if it has no longer a legal holiday since 1990. He reminds us of standing up for freedom and the right to democratic participation - values that are also of great importance in today's world.
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| Ort | Potsdam, Deutschland |
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