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Gefallene Helden | Grenzposten
Fallen Heroes | Border post
Event by: Zitadelle I Museen und Ausstellungen
Location: Spandau Citadel, Am Juliusturm 64, Berlin - Bezirk Spandau
About event
Border post
Hans Eickworth, 1968
Object: Border post, Hans Eickworth, 1968, Original location: planned Jerusalemer Straße, Berlin-Mitte, from 1971 Ho Chi Minh barracks, Berlin-Wilhelmshagen
Meeting point: Citadel, Museum “Revealed. Berlin and its monuments”
Who: Prof. Dr. Axel Klausmeier (architectural historian, Berlin Wall Foundation), Dr. Doris Müller-Toovey (Historian, Berlin-Gatow Airfield Military History Museum)
Controversial questions: From 1961 to 1964, 54 people died at the Berlin Wall. Six of them were soldiers of the GDR border troops, because since 1962 refugees and escape helpers have also been arming themselves. Hans Eickworth, the “first professional artist from the ranks of the NVA” (Berliner Zeitung 1961), had enough: he used his creative energy to create a monument to his comrades who had died in the fight against their own people. But the wishes of the GDR leadership and the artist's tastes diverged widely. How is the memory of these special people who died at the Wall perceived today? What forms are considered appropriate today for commemorating German soldiers and now also female soldiers who are killed in the line of duty?
This event is part of the Fallen Heroes discussion series - Democratic verbal battles at the war memorial.
“Germany is getting a Veterans Day” was what the media said in November 2023. This was followed by a discussion across society about the sense and nonsense of commemoration understood as “hero worship”.
When it comes to the culture of remembrance, the Spandau Citadel is of course there: after all, it is revealed through the exhibition “Revealed. “Berlin and its monuments” is now perceived as a center for dealing with controversial monuments. We like to provide space for an interesting controversy - always based on scientific information, with current references and in an approachable atmosphere.
In this series of discussions we offer the opportunity to find out more about Berlin monuments from 1822 to 1989 were dedicated to generals and soldiers and tell a lot about the specifically German development of public veneration of military personalities. We visit the original objects in the museum, in the new display depot at the citadel and in public spaces. After a short keynote speech, we invite you to a joint discussion, moderated by museum director Dr. Urte Evert.
Image: Fallen heroes © Zitadelle Spandau | Graphics: studio lindhorst-emme+hinrichs
Hans Eickworth, 1968
Object: Border post, Hans Eickworth, 1968, Original location: planned Jerusalemer Straße, Berlin-Mitte, from 1971 Ho Chi Minh barracks, Berlin-Wilhelmshagen
Meeting point: Citadel, Museum “Revealed. Berlin and its monuments”
Who: Prof. Dr. Axel Klausmeier (architectural historian, Berlin Wall Foundation), Dr. Doris Müller-Toovey (Historian, Berlin-Gatow Airfield Military History Museum)
Controversial questions: From 1961 to 1964, 54 people died at the Berlin Wall. Six of them were soldiers of the GDR border troops, because since 1962 refugees and escape helpers have also been arming themselves. Hans Eickworth, the “first professional artist from the ranks of the NVA” (Berliner Zeitung 1961), had enough: he used his creative energy to create a monument to his comrades who had died in the fight against their own people. But the wishes of the GDR leadership and the artist's tastes diverged widely. How is the memory of these special people who died at the Wall perceived today? What forms are considered appropriate today for commemorating German soldiers and now also female soldiers who are killed in the line of duty?
This event is part of the Fallen Heroes discussion series - Democratic verbal battles at the war memorial.
“Germany is getting a Veterans Day” was what the media said in November 2023. This was followed by a discussion across society about the sense and nonsense of commemoration understood as “hero worship”.
When it comes to the culture of remembrance, the Spandau Citadel is of course there: after all, it is revealed through the exhibition “Revealed. “Berlin and its monuments” is now perceived as a center for dealing with controversial monuments. We like to provide space for an interesting controversy - always based on scientific information, with current references and in an approachable atmosphere.
In this series of discussions we offer the opportunity to find out more about Berlin monuments from 1822 to 1989 were dedicated to generals and soldiers and tell a lot about the specifically German development of public veneration of military personalities. We visit the original objects in the museum, in the new display depot at the citadel and in public spaces. After a short keynote speech, we invite you to a joint discussion, moderated by museum director Dr. Urte Evert.
Image: Fallen heroes © Zitadelle Spandau | Graphics: studio lindhorst-emme+hinrichs