22nd Chemnitz Peace Day: In search of peace

On 5 March, the 22nd Chemnitz Peace Day commemorates the bombing and destruction of the city 78 years ago and all the victims of the Second World War. This year, the Peace Day will once again be organised by many different actors to remember the horrors of the Second World War and to campaign for peaceful coexistence, democracy and openness to the world.

5 March 2023 begins at 10 a.m. with the traditional commemoration ceremony at the municipal cemetery. A wreath will be laid at the memorial for the victims of the bombing of the city of Chemnitz.

In the new Saxon Gallery in the TIETZ, Moritzstraße 20, the first Chemnitz literature scholarship holder Arna Aley will present a collage concert with the formation Ent_Rüstet. Under the title SEHNSUCHT_FRIEDEN, texts and songs will inspire people to reflect and draw hope from 11 am.

PEACE - Running for Peace" with the Chemnitz City Sports Association and Lauf-KulTour e. V. will start at 11 am. A peace sign will be run in two groups over a distance of ten kilometres, which will be recorded with the help of GPS trackers. The finish line will be at Neumarkt.

The activities on Neumarkt will also begin at 11am. Peace banners from Chemnitz schools from the Aktion © art project will be presented. The Peace Cross will also open at 11am. There, the people of Chemnitz can once again hand in their peace wishes.

From 1 pm, children and young people can design their own peace shirts. The event is organised by the Saxony International School in cooperation with Heinrich Schmid.

In March 1933 - 90 years ago - the National Socialists began to persecute their political opponents. Spontaneous book burnings took place in many German cities, and the first book burnings were staged in May. For the first time on this year's Chemnitz Peace Day, an exhibition organised by the "Verbrannte Orte e. V." association will show the history of the book burnings. Two readings will also commemorate the authors whose books were burned from March 1933 onwards. The readings will take place on Neumarkt from 1.30 pm to 4 pm and from 4.15 pm to 5.15 pm.

Children from the "Rosa Luxemburg", Adelsberg, Euba and Gablenz primary schools as well as various day care centres will also be exploring the topic of book burning. At 2 pm , they will present pictures on the theme of "My favourite book". You can also create your own pictures on site.

In the city council chamber of the town hall at 3, 4 and 5 p.m. , films will be shown by contemporary witnesses from Chemnitz who experienced the bombing of Chemnitz on 5 March 1945.

The parable about adaptation, courage, injustice and inhumanity "Was das Nashorn sah, als es auf die andere Seite des Zauns schaute" by Jens Raschke will be shown at 4 pm in the puppet theatre of the Chemnitz Theatre in the Spinnbau, Altchemnitzer Straße 27. The puppet theatre is suitable for children aged 10 and over.

The peace walks to Neumarkt begin at 5 pm .

In the evening, the main event on Neumarkt begins at 6 pm under the title "Searching for Peace". Mayor Sven Schulze and the deputy mayor from Łodz, Adam Wieczorek, will commemorate the victims of past and present wars together with all those present. Refugees from current war zones will talk about their experiences of war and their wishes for peace. Christoph Magirius will also embark on a search for peace with his "Appeal to Reason". Afterwards, the children's and youth choir of the Chemnitz Theatre under the direction of Lorenz Höß will sing "Ode to Joy" together with the visitors.

Sachsen Fernsehen will broadcast a special programme on Peace Day from 6 pm.

"Der große Hanussen" - Die Geschichte eines Schwindlers (The Great Hanussen) by Stefan Heym will be performed on the main stage of Chemnitz Theatre in the Spinnbau at 6 pm .

The peace service entitled "Rearming - Disarming - Retooling" will begin at 8 pm in St Jakobi's Church.

The musical reading "Geschichte eines Deutschen. Memories 1914 to 1933 by Sebastian Haffner" will be presented by Dirk Glodde and Tobias Brunn in the foyer of the Spinnbau at 8.30 pm.

The day will come to a close at 9 pm at the Peace Cross, accompanied by the ringing of the church bells of Chemnitz.

Further events are planned in the city centre by various organisations, such as Hand in Hand e. V. and Aufstehen gegen Rassismus. There will be music in the Stadthallenpark and a "Cycling for Peace" bike parade.

Further information on the Chemnitz Peace Day can be found at www.chemnitz.de/friedenstag and www.chemnitzer-friedenstag.de.