Commemorative plaque on Hans-Beimler stele is inaugurated
Ceremonial unveiling on 30 June, 6 p.m., Carl-von-Ossietzky-Straße/corner of Hans-Ziegler-Straße
On Thursday, 30 June at 6 pm, a memorial plaque with the names of 24 Chemnitz residents who fought in the Spanish Civil War will be unveiled at the Hans-Beimler-Stele. After a welcoming address by Ferenc Csák, Head of Cultural Operations, Enrico Hilbert, Chairman of the Association of Persecutees of the Nazi Regime, their Survivors and Friends in Chemnitz, will speak a few words of honour.
Representatives of the media are cordially invited to attend. The meeting point is at the Hans-Beimler-Stele, Carl-von-Ossietzky-Straße/corner of Hans-Ziegler-Straße, in the Gablenz district.
The stele honours Hans Beimler, who fought alongside the Spanish people in the Spanish Civil War for democracy and freedom and against the establishment of the fascist Franco dictatorship. It was created in 1979 and was restored and inaugurated for the second time in 2018 with the support of Chemnitz City Council.
The stele also commemorates the other German volunteers in the Spanish Civil War who also came from Chemnitz, including two women, Ines Elisabeth Kühnen and Käte Lichtenstein. Probably the best-known fighter in Chemnitz is Walter Janka, who later ran the Aufbau publishing house and was imprisoned in Bautzen prison after a political show trial in the GDR.
In order to raise public awareness of these Chemnitz residents and to strengthen their identity, the city councillors have also spoken out in favour of installing a memorial plaque to complement the stele. The project was realised under the leadership of the City of Chemnitz's cultural department.
Like the Hans-Beimler stele, the memorial plaque was also created by the Chemnitz sculptor Volker Beier. A jury consisting of representatives from the city council, citizens and the cultural sector as well as the owner's representative decided on the design.
The unveiling will be accompanied by a programme of songs by the artist group QUIJOTE.