Chemnitz Peace Day 2018
Chemnitz Peace Prize
One of the highlights of the Chemnitz Peace Day on 5 March is the awarding of the Chemnitz Peace Prize in the city hall. The Chemnitz Peace Prize has been awarded since 2004 by the Citizens' Association Für Chemnitz in co-operation with the Crime Prevention Council of the City of Chemnitz and the City of Chemnitz Commissioner for Foreigners. >>more
Chemnitz sets an example for peace: On 5 March, hundreds of people from Chemnitz took part in numerous events and campaigns for Chemnitz Peace Day to commemorate the destruction of the city and all victims of the Second World War as well as to set an example for democracy, tolerance, peaceful coexistence and openness to the world, against hatred and right-wing extremism.
Wreath-laying ceremony at the municipal cemetery
At 10 a.m., Lord Mayor Barbara Ludwig laid a wreath at the memorial for the bomb victims of 5 March at the municipal cemetery. In addition to the Mayor's commemorative speech, a pupil from the City Pupils' Council and four pupils from the Johann-Wolfgang-von-Goethe-Gymnasium, School against Racism working group, remembered the victims of 5 March in their speeches. Around 100 participants commemorated the victims at the cemetery.
Inauguration of the information stele "Children at war"
The city of Chemnitz focussed this year's Peace Day on the theme of "Children at war". Among other things, a new information stele was inaugurated at 11.30 a.m. in the Turnstraße 39 area in front of 80 guests. The stele commemorates the horrors of the Second World War and allows the three contemporary witnesses Justin Sonder, Stephan Tanneberger and Karl-Heinz Kleve, who were still children on 5 March 1945, to have their say.
The stories of the children at the time can be heard in both German and English at the touch of a button on the stele.
Premiere of the documentary film "Children at War"
The film "Kinder im Krieg. Chemnitz memories that last a lifetime." The 30-minute film was shown to the public for the first time in the City Council Chamber. It was commissioned by the city of Chemnitz and produced by the Chemnitz film production company Red Tower Films. It tells the story of four contemporary witnesses from Chemnitz who experienced the Second World War and the bombing of the city in very different ways. 120 spectators attended the premiere.
Inauguration of the Peace Square at the Technical Town Hall
A special symbol of the Chemnitz Peace Day was the inauguration of the Peace Square at the new Technical City Hall in the early afternoon. On the initiative of the city council, the square in front of the building was given a new name. Mayor Michael Stötzer unveiled the new street sign. At the same time, the sculpture "Reliquie Mensch" by Chemnitz artist Michael Morgner was unveiled on Friedensplatz.
Rally "'Flowers from Ruins' - Women from the rubble and us war children"
After devotions in four churches in Chemnitz, the traditional peace routes led along various routes to the central event on Neumarkt, which this year was entitled "'Flowers from Ruins' - Trümmerfrauen und wir Kriegskinder". Participants included Nancy Gibson, Hartwig Albiro, Mathis Stendike, Dylan Baumann, Christine Gabsch, Dirk Glodde, the choir of the municipal music school and the sign language choir "Monael and Friends".
Mayor Barbara Ludwig also spoke in front of hundreds of Chemnitz residents as part of the programme.
Further diverse actions
Once again this year, the Aktion C art project designed posters for the town hall and the Roter Turm gallery. In workshops in schools in Chemnitz and Niederwiesa, 24 new colourful banners were created.
The Chemnitz Peace Cross opened at 11 a.m. on the Neumarkt, where the people of Chemnitz were able to articulate their wishes for peace. The "Chemnitz History Building Site" exhibition was opened at the same time. At 1 p.m., children were able to take part in a peace memory game on the Neumarkt. At 2 pm, the action stand "'Red-Hand-Day' - No child soldiers!" opened.
The alliance Chemnitz Nazifrei had also organised events: at 4.30 p.m., for example, a perpetrator trail tour took place, during which traces of the crime scenes and perpetrators of National Socialist crimes were searched for.
The Chemnitz Peace Day ended in the evening with a peace service in the St Jakobi City and Market Church and the traditional commemorative ringing of the Chemnitz churches.