Magdeburg intends courageous citizens: 70 years of the folk uprising from 1953!

Magdeburg intends courageous citizens: 70 years of the folk uprising from 1953!

Magdeburg, Deutschland - On Monday, June 17th, an important memorial event on the popular uprising from 1953 will take place in Magdeburg. From 3:00 p.m., the state capital Magdeburg and the Moritzplatz memorial will focus back on the protests that mobilized people in the GDR 72 years ago. In her speech, Mayor Simone Borris will highlight the special meaning of this commemorative day. At that time, over 20,000 Magdeburgers took part in the mass protests that stood for self-determination and freedom, such as [Meetingpoint Magdeburg] (https://www.meetingpoint-magdburg.de/neuitikel/198433-Magdburg-an-den-volksstand- von-1953) reported.

The popular uprising was characterized by a wave of unrest and huge protests that spread among the workers. Happed by increasing the work standards and the persistent economic misery, massive demonstrations occurred in Magdeburg, Halle, Leipzig and many other cities on June 17, 1953. These events make Magdeburg an important focus of the protests, such as Volksstimme in detail. The protests formed between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. and walked through the streets towards the city center.

memorial lesson in the Moritzhof

During the commemoration lesson, various contributions are expected, including Dr. Daniel Bohse, head of the Moritzplatz memorial, and Dr. Carl-Gerd Winter, the chairman of the association of victims of Stalinism. In addition, Andreas Arnsfeld from the Volksbund Deutsche Wargräberfürsorge will pronounce a commemoration of the dead. The event is completed with a minute's silence and a wreath -laying -in and accompanied by musical performances. Afterwards there are guided tours through the memorial to give the participants the opportunity to get to know the historical background better.

On June 17, 1953, people in the GDR by no means only called for the improvement of working conditions, but also fundamental changes such as the resignation of the government and free elections. These unrest was the first mass raising in the area of ​​influence of the Soviet Union, and the socialist government reacted with brutal violence. The Soviet troops intervened and brought the uprising with bloody violence, with at least 55 people, including numerous demonstrators, lost their lives, as the Federal Center for Political Education explains here.

memory and warning

In the days after the uprising, there were further arrests and convictions of activists, many of them were sentenced to long prison terms. The events of June 17, 1953 still remember the dangers of oppression and the pursuit of freedom. Places such as the place of June 17 and Herbert-Stauch-Straße in Magdeburg are commemorating the brave citizens who rebelled against the SED dictatorship. The memorial event next Monday will undoubtedly be an important contribution to keeping this story alive and remembering the victims.

The entanglements in the Soviet power policy and the difficulties that the GDR residents once experienced raised our awareness of the values ​​of freedom and democracy to defend it. To all citizens who want to commemorate with us: let us come together and stand for the freedom of the past and the future.