Thousands at the Chemnitz Peace Day 2022
Programme of the Peace Day working group under the motto "Together instead of side by side" - numerous other events in the city centre with a great response
Today, 5 March, thousands of people from Chemnitz commemorated the bombing of the city 77 years ago and the victims of the Second World War with events and actions under the motto "Together instead of side by side".
Mayor Sven Schulze welcomed around 1,500 participants to the main event on the market square in light of the war in Ukraine: "This is not just an attack on Ukraine, but on the whole of Europe. An attack on democracy and peace in Europe. This democratic asset must be protected. We must stand up for democracy and defend it against its enemies. We don't have to do this sometime. We must do it now.
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For twenty years, Chemnitz Peace Day has not just been a day of remembrance. 5 March is our Peace Day. A day of reflection, against forgetting and against instrumentalisation. It is not only a day for the dead, but especially for the living. When we practise remembrance culture, it is never just about the past. It is about the future of our society. Together with civil society, we want to put this terrible day in 1945 where it belongs. It is a terrible event whose origins must be known in order to recognise its consequences and repercussions. Combined with the idea of the future: we must keep the peace.
This applies not only to Chemnitz, but to Germany, Europe and the whole world."
Diverse activities organised by the Peace Day working group and other stakeholders
The day traditionally began with a memorial service at the municipal cemetery. Wreaths were laid at the memorial to the victims of the bombing of the city of Chemnitz, while contemporary witnesses recounted their childhood memories of the night of the bombing on 5 March 1945.
The Lauf-KulTour e.V. and the Stadtsportbund Chemnitz e.V. started the "Dove of Peace" project on the Neumarkt. The runners drew a dove of peace on the city map of Chemnitz in a sporty 20 kilometres.
The Peace Day working group had been present on Neumarkt since midday, collecting wishes for peace. Various exhibitions could be seen on construction fences. The photo exhibition "Scenes of Survival" by photojournalist Wassilis Aswestopoulos documented the situation in Greek refugee camps. Messages of peace from twin cities have reached the city of Chemnitz. And with the support of Aktion C, young people from Chemnitz are exploring the works of writer Stefan Heym under the theme "Find your way!".
Concerts and theatre performances by the Municipal Music School and Chemnitz Municipal Theatre were held at St. Jakobikirche.
In addition to activities organised by the Peace Day working group, there were numerous other events throughout the day in Chemnitz city centre with many hundreds of participants.
The Chemnitz Peace Day traditionally ends in the evening with a peace service in the St Jakobi City and Market Church and the commemorative ringing of all Chemnitz churches at 9 pm.
More impressions of today's event at www.chemnitz.de/friedenstag