Chemnitz Peace Day in the spirit of understanding
Commemorating the bombing of the city 79 years ago and the victims of wars around the world
Several hundred people from Chemnitz commemorated the bombing and destruction of Chemnitz on 5 March 1945 at events and actions entitled "Peace for the city - a city for peace" and remembered the victims of wars all over the world.
Lord Mayor Sven Schulze opened the Peace Day with the traditional commemoration ceremony at the municipal cemetery, where wreaths were laid at the memorial for the victims of the bombing of the city of Chemnitz and contemporary witnesses recounted their childhood memories of the night of the bombing on 5 March 1945.
Sven Schulze: "A lively and diverse culture of remembrance is a crucial prerequisite for repeatedly engaging in social discourse about German history. Keeping memories alive, but looking to the future: How do we deal with the lessons of the past? How do we want to shape our society, our coexistence? I want our society to be peaceful, humane and hospitable. I want an open, diverse and vibrant democratic society that never loses sight of the struggle for peace in the world."
The main event from 6 p.m. on the Neumarkt, entitled "Menschenkinder" ("Human Children") and organised by the Peace Day working group, was a joint vigil for the fact that wars and conflicts at all times only bring suffering and grief to humanity.
Commemorative events, readings, exhibitions and prayers for peace organised by the Peace Day working group and other civil society actors invited people throughout the day to pause for thought, reflect on the horrors of war and understand the importance of peace in today's world. The 23rd Chemnitz Peace Day thus set an example for peaceful coexistence, democracy and cosmopolitanism.
Since the morning, the people of Chemnitz have been able to formulate their wishes for peace at the Peace Cross on Neumarkt and discuss our form of coexistence at the Democracy Centre of the FUER CHEMNITZ e. V. citizens' association and the Chemnitz Peace Day working group, in cooperation with the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025 gGmbH. With the support of Aktion C, peace banners designed by Chemnitz schoolchildren once again adorned the market square.
Readings were held at the TIETZ and many other locations in the city, and social actors and representatives of various churches started the peace trails at eight starting points, with the main event at Neumarkt as the destination.
Lauf-KulTour e. V. and Stadtsportbund Chemnitz e. V. were also out and about in a sporting capacity and launched the "Sign of Peace" project on Neumarkt. The 12.5 kilometre route covered by the runners was marked by a candle as a symbol of peace.
The Chemnitz Peace Day ended in the evening with a peace service in the City and Market Church of St Jakobi and the commemorative ringing of all Chemnitz churches at 9 pm.
You can find impressions of the day at www.chemnitz.de/friedenstag