Stralsund: Call for donations to remember our war dead!

Stralsund: Call for donations to remember our war dead!

Autumn is just around the corner and with it the collection of donations by the German War Graves Commission traditionally begins. The opening event in Stralsund recently took place under this motto. This event made it clear that the financial resources available to the Volksbund are far from sufficient to maintain the valuable work of remembrance. In fact, the numbers speak for themselves: around 17 million people died in the First World War and as many as 50 million in the Second World War, and the history of these losses must continue to be kept alive. NDR reports that...

The association is passionate about remembrance projects. Since 2005, the Volksbund has been running a youth meeting and educational center near the Golm war cemetery on Usedom. There, young people from all over Europe have the opportunity to deal with the history and consequences of war and violence. But financial support is stagnating, and this has a direct impact on the educational work that characterizes the Volksbund's commitment. According to the Volksbund bpb.de The association depends mainly on donations and carries out its annual collections in the fall.

Scarce resources and staff cuts

The volunteers who walk through the streets in Stralsund with donation boxes show great commitment, but the financial pressure is noticeable. Frustration can be found among the helpers, as the planned staff reduction of 30 percent over the next five years has a direct impact on the motivation of the volunteers. There are currently three permanent employees and around 60 volunteers working in the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania regional association. However, many contracts are limited due to a lack of funds and there are already initial negative consequences: the education officer terminated prematurely, which severely limits educational work in schools and has led to a reduced range of workshops.

The Stralsund event was attended by a diverse audience, including mayors, volunteers and prominent supporters. The message was clear: it is also up to the public to campaign for financial support for the Volksbund. Because without sufficient funds, the important historical educational work cannot be continued. Loud bpb.de, the Volksbund's educational institutions offer annual programs on the culture of remembrance, reaching over 38,000 young people.

Hope for the future

Despite the tense financial situation, there are hopes for viable solutions for the future of the Volksbund. Regional or budget-supported programs have already been established in various federal states, some of which support the financing of educational officers. Such initiatives could also open up new perspectives for the Volksbund and make the educational offering more diverse and sustainable.

As part of the planned youth projects, young people from seven countries want to set an example for peace and remembrance in Rostock and Kühlungsborn. Such initiatives would be essential for dealing with history in the future. The Volksbund remains a central player in preserving the memory and raising awareness about the graves - but its continuation depends on the population's willingness to donate. Together we can hope that the commitment to remembering the fallen and coming to terms with Europe's history of war and violence will find a strong foundation.