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Commemoration of the popular uprising of 1953: celebrate the courage of the resistance heroes!
On June 16, 2025, Neuwied commemorates the courageous GDR protesters of 1953. A memorial ceremony commemorates freedom and democracy.
Commemoration of the popular uprising of 1953: celebrate the courage of the resistance heroes!
A special commemoration of the 72nd anniversary of the popular uprising in the GDR will be organized in Koblenz on June 16, 2025. This event is given by the Union of Victims' Associations of Communist Tyranny (UOKG) and the CDU. Such commemorative events have been taking place on Peter-Altmeier-Ufer at Deutsches Eck since 2018, where plaques were inaugurated in November 2018. The initiator of this worthy event is Elke Schlegel, who is now active on the board of the Seniors' Union. Monika Artz, the chairwoman of the Senior Citizens' Union, praises the great compassion and commitment of her members, who keep the memory of the courageous women and men of 1953 alive.
The popular uprising on June 17, 1953 is one of the most formative events in German history and symbolizes the resistance against the SED regime. Around a million people demonstrated for freedom and against the dictatorship at 700 locations in the GDR. However, these protests were suppressed with brutal violence, resulting in the arrests of around 15,000 people and the deaths of up to 120 people. The significance of this day was also recognized by the SED victims' representative, who laid wreaths at the ground monument in Berlin on June 17, 2024. It is committed to ensuring that the memory of the victims of the SED dictatorship continues to have an important place in society, even if June 17, 1990 was abolished as a public holiday.
Commemorating and coming to terms with the past
The SED victims' representative emphasizes that June 17th is not just a historical date, but a day that shows us the prices that many people had to pay for freedom and democracy. There are efforts to reintroduce June 17th as a public holiday and to strengthen the social relevance of commemorating the events of 1953. Annual memorial hours in the German Bundestag and regional events in honor of the resistance movement are encouraged. The history of the popular uprising should also be covered in schools in order to educate younger generations about the meaning of the uprising.
At a time when historical events are often forgotten, it is crucial that the ranks of commemorative events grow. The preparations for the commemoration at the Deutsches Eck offer the opportunity to maintain the memory of the courage of the women and men of 1953 and to promote awareness of the values of freedom and democracy. Because as Elke Schlegel emphasizes: “We must not silence the voices of the victims and must continue to honor the courage they have shown.” The memorial event in Koblenz will therefore not only be a look back at the past, but also a powerful commitment to the future of democratic coexistence.
The important role of June 17th is also a call to all of us to stand up for the values that people defended back then. Whether in Berlin or in Koblenz, the memory of this day remains unforgotten and calls on us to be just as courageous today.