German Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer warned against the trivialization of the GDR dictatorship on the 65th anniversary of the construction of the Berlin Wall.
Weimer, a non-partisan minister, stated that the AfD and the Linkspartei produce 'positive distorted images of the GDR in East Germany.' He noted that within the AfD, this includes 'singing the GDR national anthem.'
Weimer expressed 'great concerns' regarding the culture of remembrance in Berlin and Saxony-Anhalt, where elections are scheduled for September. In Saxony-Anhalt, the AfD could achieve an absolute majority, while in Berlin, the Linkspartei leads in some polls.
Voices of remembrance and concern
Evelyn Zupke, the Bundestag Commissioner for Victims of the SED Dictatorship, warned of an increasing glorification of the GDR. Speaking to the Rheinische Post, Zupke said that to some, the GDR appears increasingly more beautiful the longer it lies in the past, adding that people who did not conform or expressed opposition suffered heavily under the dictatorship.
Dictatorship is always so abstract
Dieter Dombrowski, Chairman of the Union of Victims of Communist Tyranny (UOKG), warned of dangers to democracy and a creeping legitimization of socialism. He stated that this tendency is increasing on both the left and the right and told Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND) that 'socialization means nothing other than people's property and thus organized irresponsibility.'
German politician Katrin Göring-Eckardt described material East-West differences as a danger to democracy, stating that West Germany continues to have an enormous preponderance in terms of wages, salaries, and property.
Commemorating the Wall
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier described the construction of the Wall by the GDR leadership as 'the testimony of a hopeless failure.'
At least 140 people lost their lives at the border installations erected from August 13, 1961, during escape attempts.
There are conflicting figures regarding the death toll. While at least 140 people are reported to have died during escape attempts at border installations, a spokesperson for President Steinmeier stated on X that at least 260 people lost their lives at the Wall due to the GDR border regime.
To promote remembrance, Weimer suggested naming streets and squares after GDR resistance fighters. He suggested that where new streets are created, names of those killed or imprisoned by the communist dictatorship should be considered.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for the defense of democracy on X, writing that Germany has now been united longer than it was divided by the Wall. Meanwhile, Berlin's Governing Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) and German Bundestag President Julia Klöckner (CDU) were expected at a memorial event in Bernauer Straße.
