Demonstration by the Polish trade union Solidarnosc in the pilgrimage city of Tschenstochau (Poland). The illegal trade union Solidarnosc grew into a mass movement that could no longer be stopped.
Quelle: AP Photo

Der Protest geht weiter

Эта статья еще не переведена русский.

The conflicts in East Germany began to escalate in 1988. More and more people applied to emigrate. They wanted to leave the GDR, as they saw no prospects there. An increasing number tried to pressure for emigration to West Germany through public protest.

The opposition took a different approach, wanting to reform the country. They called for the observation of human rights and political liberties such as freedom of assembly and association. They considered it essential for human and civil rights to be granted before the necessary changes could be achieved in society.

Rally outside Dresden’s Church of the Cross, 13 February 1988, marking the anniversary of the city’s bombing in World War II. Would-be emigrants and opposition groups found common ground on the subject of human rights.
Quelle: picture-alliance/epd/Bernd Bohm
Forum of the Ecumenical Assembly for Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation in Dresden, February 1988. Under the heading of “justice in the GDR”, people called for changes in society, ranging from tearing down the Berlin wall to abolishing military training for young people.
Quelle: epd-bild/Bernd Bohm
Would-be emigrants demonstrating at the church congress in Görlitz (Saxony), June 1988. Despite the arrests in East Berlin at the beginning of 1988, the protests continued. More and more people who wanted to leave the GDR began speaking out in public.
Quelle: picture-alliance/epd/Bernd Bohm
Church newspapers started writing more critical reports in 1988, prompting the state to take action against them. Entire articles were banned on a number of occasions. On 10 October 1988 civil rights activists protested in East Berlin against state censorship. Security forces intervened, arresting many of the demonstrators.
Quelle: Bernd Weu

Auf Kirchentagen und den Foren der Ökumenischen Versammlung treffen sich Tausende Menschen, die in der Diktatur unzufrieden sind. Dort begegnen sie Gleichgesinnten. Sie können ihre Kritik äußern und ihren Forderungen Nachdruck verleihen. Kirchenzeitungen wollen darüber berichten und werden daraufhin zensiert. In der Folge demonstrieren Oppositionelle im Herbst 1988 gegen die Zensur. Auch die Militarisierung der Gesellschaft und das staatliche Bildungssystem in der DDR stehen in der Kritik.

Flyer for a protest against the East German education system in Jena. The protest was prompted by the expulsion of pupils from Carl von Ossietzky School (Berlin-Pankow) in September 1988. The young people were punished for making critical comments on the militarisation of society.
Quelle: Robert-Havemann-Gesellschaft/Mathias Guppke
Flyer for a protest against the East German education system in Jena. The protest was prompted by the expulsion of pupils from Carl von Ossietzky School (Berlin-Pankow) in September 1988. The young people were punished for making critical comments on the militarisation of society.
Quelle: Robert-Havemann-Gesellschaft
Protest letter dated 24 November 1988. The ban on the Soviet magazine Sputnik by the GDR government prompted widespread protest. Criticism came from organisations close to the state, and from opposition groups and individuals angered by the ban.
Quelle: Privatarchiv Christian Sachse
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