Column project: Stations of the Peaceful Revolution
On 9th October 2010 Leipzig's Citizens Committee opened the "Stations of the Peaceful Revolution" exhibition. It marks the most important points in Leipzig at which political resistance activities took place in 1989/1990 – including the demonstration for democracy in the market square on the occasion of the anniversary of the deaths of Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht on 15 January, the street music festival in Leipzig's city centre on 10 June and of course the decisive Monday demonstration on 9th October as well as the occupation of the Leipzig Stasi headquarters, the "Round Corner" building, on 4 December.
Within the city, the construction of thematic columns will make it possible for the crucial stations of the Peaceful Revolution to be experienced, thus keeping alive memories of 1989, the year of decisive change. The primary aim of the columns is to commemorate the power of the idea of democracy which enabled the citizens of the GDR to free themselves from dictatorship. The purpose is to show that civil courage is rewarded and to commemorate the grounds for action of those who took part in the Peaceful Revolution and fought for a free and democratic state.
The columns will enable people to re-live and understand history at the very places where it was made. The aim on the one hand is to appeal to the people of Leipzig and make them aware of an important chapter in the history of their city. At the same time visitors from all over Germany and other countries are to be shown the special role played by the events which took place in Leipzig in the struggle for democracy of 1989, events which had a major impact on the entire country.
This project was made possible by donations from the City of Leipzig, the "Peaceful Revolution and German Unity" funding programme of the State of Saxony, the Foundation for Saxony's Memorials and the Foundation for the Study of the Communist Dictatorship in the GDR.