Chemnitz meets Karl-Marx-Stadt
Programme on the Neumarkt on 31 May 2015 from 2 pm
On 1 June 1990, after 37 years as Karl-Marx-Stadt, the city was given back its original name of Chemnitz. In a referendum in April 1990, the majority of the population voted in favour of the city name Chemnitz. As a result, the city council decided by a large majority to rename the city on 1 June 1990.
Since that day, the city has once again borne its historical name Chemnitz. Talking about Chemnitz and Karl-Marx-Stadt: this anniversary should be discussed with the people of Chemnitz.
Chemnitz residents. Under the title "Chemnitz meets Karl-Marx-Stadt", a programme of events for next Sunday, 31 May on Neumarkt invites people to listen and join in the conversation.
Neumarkt becomes a chatting mile
From 2 p.m., contemporary witnesses, including Lord Mayor Barbara Ludwig, former Lord Mayor Dr Eberhard Langer and the organiser of the referendum, Claus Modaleck, will talk about how Karl-Marx-Stadt became Chemnitz again. A look back at the past 25 years will be provided by a subsequent speed dating event, in which contemporary witnesses and protagonists will invite all Chemnitz residents to talk. Neumarkt will become the city's biggest chatting mile. The event will be supported and broadcast by Radio T. From 4.30 pm, city guide Martina Wutzler will take visitors on an architectural tour and talk about the urban development of Chemnitz over the past 25 years. The tour lasts around one and a half hours and costs seven euros per person.
"There is no other city in Germany with a name history like this," says Lord Mayor Barbara Ludwig. "The renaming 25 years ago is a powerful piece of democratic history: the citizens themselves decided on the city's name. The Peaceful Revolution made this decision possible. Everyone immediately has something to tell, remembers experiences, details, encounters. I'm looking forward to the conversations."
A new publication with partially unpublished documents will also be presented on this day: "Two names, one city. Tracing the renaming of Karl-Marx-Stadt in Chemnitz". This will be distributed for the first time and free of charge at the event on Neumarkt.
Publication "Two names, one city"
On 25 pages, the brochure tells stories from the city's renaming in 1953 and its renaming in 1990, including previously unpublished photos by Helmut Pfeifer from Claus Modaleck's archive. Further material comes from the Chemnitz City Archive, the Office of the Federal Commissioner for Stasi Records and other contemporary witnesses. Those involved in the renaming process talk about their motivation, feelings, ambivalence and passions. The interviewees included
Tower keeper Stefan Weber (it was one of his last interviews), honorary citizen and former superintendent Christoph Magirius, former Lord Mayor Dr Eberhard Langer,
the organiser of the referendum Claus Modaleck and Manfred Hastedt, Head of the Environmental Centre - representative of the many turnaround projects that have emerged over the past 25 years.
Also available as a free audiobook download
The story of the renaming will also be available to listen to. "Two names, one city - an acoustic journey through time to the renaming and renaming of Chemnitz" will be available as a free audiobook download on the city's online channels from Sunday. Claus Modaleck was one of the interview partners in this feature.