TUCcurrent events
Cooperation between the Institute of Political Science at Chemnitz University of Technology, the Kaßberg Prison Learning and Memorial Site. V. and Chemnitz Adult Education Center promotes culture of remembrance
Geralf Pochop from Torgau is a contemporary witness and works as an author. In his book “Underground was strategy – punk in the GDR between rebellion and repression,” he describes his time as a punk in the GDR, which he reports on in his lecture. Photo: private
Since the winter semester of 2023/24, the Institute of Political Science at Chemnitz University of Technology, the Kaßberg Prison Learning and Memorial Site have been working. V. and the adult education center (vhs) Chemnitz are working together as part of a new series of events on youth opposition and deviance in the late GDR in order to more closely link research, education and memory work in Chemnitz. Its goal is to improve the visibility of historical and current topics, to mutually sharpen the scientific profile and to promote the culture of remembrance in Chemnitz. Three events on the history of punk and the heavy metal scene in the GDR in the 1980s will be organized until mid-May.
The first is a cooperation between the Saxon State Center for Civic Education, the Kaßberg Prison Learning and Memorial Site. V., the Institute for Political Science at Chemnitz University of Technology and the vhs Chemnitz in the project “Kontrovers vor Ort” on March 7, 2024, 7:00 p.m., with Geralf Pochop on the topic “Punk in the GDR – cry for freedom or just a copy of the West?” in the learning and memorial site Kaßberg-Prison,Kaßbergstr. 16c. This event is supported by the Saxon State Center for Civic Education in the “Kontrovers vor Ort” project. A workshop will follow in April specifically for students of the Institute of Political Science and students of a history course at the Karl-Schmidt-Rottluff-Gymnasium Chemnitz. Another public lecture on “Red Metal”, the heavy metal subculture of the GDR, will take place on May 17th, 7:00 p.m., in the Kaßberg Prison learning and memorial site. The series is co-financed by the Saxon state representative for coming to terms with the SED dictatorship.
Making the double dictatorship history of a former place of political detention visible
The Kaßberg Prison learning and memorial site, which opened in autumn 2023, vividly visualizes this recent German history. The scientific director Dr. Steffi Lehmann explains: “The Kaßberg Prison learning and memorial site has set itself the task of coming to terms with the double dictatorship history of the former political place of detention and the ransom of prisoners from the GDR. It’s about remembering the National Socialist tyranny and its victims. In addition, those who were affected by SED injustice should be made visible. The place of learning is committed to strengthening democracy in the present and future.”
“In recent years, I have been repeatedly contacted by students who want to find out more about politics and society in the GDR. The Institute of Political Science has always written theses on the subject of the GDR, be it on environmental policy in the Karl-Marx-Stadt district or on the political impact of intellectuals. At the same time, quite a few students self-critically admit that they know little about Germany’s recent past. The cooperation with the Kaßberg Prison Learning and Memorial Association and the adult education center can be of great help here,” says Dr. Frank Schale from the Institute for Political Science.
The collaboration with the adult education center offers the opportunity to get in better contact with the people of Chemnitz beyond tried-and-tested formats. The aim is not only to present academic research to a wider audience, but also to give students the chance to get to know other forms of adult education. Dr. Ellen Thümmler from vhs emphasizes: “There is great interest in political and historical topics. I look forward to contributing to the exchange with special formats.”
Further information about the event on March 7, 2024:
(Authors: Dr. Frank Schale, Mario Steinebach)
Mario Steinebach
05.03.2024