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Riding against forgetting: Wismar celebrates 80 years of peace!
Five men from Wismar will start the “Bike the line” commemorative bike tour to Vienna on June 27, 2025 to commemorate 80 years of the Second World War.
Riding against forgetting: Wismar celebrates 80 years of peace!
Today, June 27, 2025, the memorial bike tour “Bike the line” starts in Wismar with the aim of sending a strong signal against forgetting. Five brave cyclists set out to cover the 1,400 kilometer route to Vienna. This tour not only commemorates the founding of the United Nations 80 years ago, but runs along the historic Demarcation Line where the Western Allies and the Red Army met in 1945. The occasion couldn't be more appropriate: it is the anniversary of the end of the Second World War, which began on May 8, 1945.
The route takes cyclists through important stops in Schwerin, Magdeburg, Karlsbad and Linz before reaching their destination, the Austrian capital. On the way they visit 80 historically significant points, each of which tells its own story and is intended to arouse interest in the past. It is a peace trip that not only aims to preserve the memory of past events, but also encourages an active engagement with history. [NDR].
A path full of meaning
The cyclists plan to be received by the UN in Vienna on July 14th. The tour aims not only to promote peace, but also to strengthen the idea of cooperation between nations, an idea that was born 80 years ago in San Francisco with the signing of the UN Charter by 50 states. Politics MV describes how this special trip aims to carry on the spirit of cooperation and peace.
But the memorial trip also brings with it a deeper meaning. The peaceful protests in the past, for example the civil rights activists in the GDR, show how important it is to stand up for peace and cohesion. Pastor Christoph Wonneberger, who founded a peace initiative in 1989, is an outstanding example of these efforts. After he was affected by the developments in the country, he campaigned for peaceful reunification and demonstrated for peace around the world. His initiative, which reached all the way to the border between North and South Korea, highlights the ongoing need for peace movements. German Digital Library reminds us that such movements are still of great importance.
This bike tour “Bike the line” offers a perfect setting to highlight both the progress of humanity and the challenges that still lie ahead. By embarking on this journey, participants increase awareness of peace and the historical context that affects us all.