Keep memories awake: churches and memorials on the former border

Keep memories awake: churches and memorials on the former border

Bärungen, Thüringen, Deutschland - in bears, Thuringia, where the memories of the former German-German border are still alive, special attention is paid to the importance of the culture of memory today. The place where many people lost their lives when they tried to escape from the GDR is a warning to the horrors of the past. Like Coolis.de , Martin Montag, a former Catholic pastor, deals intensively with the research and documentation of the fate of escape victims. One of his priorities is the tragic case of Karlheinz Fischer, who was fatally injured in 1971 in a mining accident.

Moments of silence and oppression experienced Monday during his travels to the GDR. He remembers the oppressive atmosphere when crossing the border and the censorship that he had to experience personally. He secretly received religious literature across the border, which made the church an important retreat for expression and discussion.

shape memory

Monday is involved in the Thuringia Citizens' Committee in Zella-Mehlis, which has documented over 1,200 deaths at the border. It is very important to him and other actors such as Hans Friedrich, a journalist and cultural officer from the Rhön-Grabfeld district, to clarify school classes about the living conditions in the GDR. They are committed to ensuring that the story is not forgotten and promote the preservation of memory locations.

A special place of memory is the approximately three meter high border fence, which is still preserved on a distance of 300 meters. This border fence and a circular hiking trail, which leads through the former death strip in Bavaria and Thuringia, serve as an impressive memorial for the right to freedom of expression and the memory of past injustice systems.

The German-German Freilandmuseum

Another important project for the processing of German-German history is the German-German open-air museum, which preserves historical systems of the former inner German border. This museum extends over various places, including Behrungen and Berkach in Thuringia and Rappershausen in Bavaria. It offers a valuable insight into the time of division and is closely networked by partnerships with different institutions, such as the state police and the “German Youth” foundation. According to thueringen.info , the systems are partially shown as a cultural monument and offer guided tours.

The region is not only defined by its eventful history, but also by the efforts to deal with a respectful way of dealing with the past. The border strip, which has now been awarded a nature reserve, shows how important it is to also preserve biological diversity. Initiatives such as the "Green Band" transform the former border strip into a green belt that protects both natural and cultural heritage.

On the occasion of the upcoming anniversary of the opening of the wall, a variety of events will devote itself to the topic of memory and processing. This offers the opportunity to bring the stories behind the numbers and data alive and at the same time to keep the teachings of history in mind. Because as ndr.de , the opening of the border in 1989 has not only changed the living conditions of many people, but also laid the cornerstone for a new and united Germany.