Erinnerungskultur | Wartist

“Mother Motherland” (Kiev) and more works by Vuchetich

In today’s issue of FAZ, Germany’s most important newspaper, the Ukrainian author Yuri Andrukhovych (“The Secret”) describes the problematic handling of democracy in his motherland in his article “Bitte beobachten Sie mein Land! – Was soll die Ukraine in Europa?” (Please observe my country! – What does Ukraine suppose to be in Europe?). He also refers to the re-emerging adoration for Stalin (see also our article on the new Stalin memorial in Zaporizhia).

Japanese Prime Minister Apologises for Colonial Rule

On 10 August 2010, Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan apologised to the Republic of Korea for the Japanese colonial rule of the Korean peninsula between 1910 and 1945. Such a move was eagerly anticipated – not just in the ROK – and may be viewed as a different Japanese approach to remembering a dark chapter of its history.

Please no Military: 100 Years German Navy School Mürwik (Commemorative Envelope)

On 21 November 2010, German Naval Academy Mürwik as the main training establishment for all German Navy officers celebrates its 100th anniversary. On this occasion, the Deutsche Post (German postal services) issues on 12 August 2010 a so-called “Ganzdrucksache” (stamped commemorative envelope), a C6 envelope with printed commemorative picture and a stamp of 0,55€ for a price of 0,75€ plus shipping and handling.

Naval Academy Mürwik Commemorative Envelope

Wartist presents: Textile Art – Matter of Conflict

From 21 May 2010, textile artist Jan Bejšovec will show a selection of his unusual works in the premises of the Berlin-based political consultancy republik movida GmbH. The exhibition Textilkunst aus Konfliktstoff (“Textile Art – Matter of Conflict”) is curated by Martin Bayer (Wartist.org), with a welcome address by Siegmund Ehrmann, MP and cultural political spokesperson of the SPD’s parliamentary group. Continue reading

New Stalin Memorial Unveiled

Already on 5 May 2010, a memorial for Stalin was unveiled in the south-Ukrainian city of Zaporizhia. While it is of no special artistic importance (it could have been put on this way some 60 years ago; maybe there was even an old bust to be used for a mould?), it is even more so politically.

“Kursk” Memorial Dishonoured

Barents Observer reported that the memorial for the 118 Russian sailors who died when their submarine K-141 Kursk sunk on 12 August 2000 had been “dishonoured by vandals”. The monument had been unveiled in July this year in Murmansk. Its inscription “For submariners who have died in peacetime” had been stolen.

Stalin bust gets a new home at “Blind Alley of Communism”

According to the Ukrainian website censor.net, judge Victor Poprevich, living in the mining city of Donezk (Ukraine), put up two sculptures of Lenin and Stalin in front of his home – having said that, setting them on the ground is all but respectful. The official name of the street to his house is “Olimpijskaja”, but Poprevich renamed it quite fittingly into “Blind Alley of Communism”.

Film Premiere: We Want (U) to Know

On 8 December 2009 at 1900h, the documentary film “We Want (U) to Know” by Ella Pugliese will have its international premiere at Cinema Babylon Mitte in Berlin.¹ The film, funded by the German development organisation Deutscher Entwicklungsdienst (German Development Service, DED), deals with remembering the crimes of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia by the local population. The premiere evening will be hosted by Amnesty International.

At least, a preview had been shown on 7 May earlier this year in Phnom Penh. ↩

“Kursk” Memorial Finally Unveiled

Good things come to those who wait… The memorial for the 118 Russian sailors who died when their submarine K-141 Kursk sunk on 12 August 2000 was finally unveiled in Murmansk. Nine years after the disaster, there is now a memorial to remember the submariners in Murmansk.

Remembering Soldiers in Germany (Berlin)

On 29 April 2009 from 1830h, a panel discussion on the topic of “Remembering Soldiers in the Federal Republic of Germany” will be held at the Landesvertretung Sachsen-Anhalt in Berlin. The event will be organised by four associations and will include two scholars and journalists each. It will tackle both historical and contemporary aspects of remembering soldiers in a democratic society and should be worth a visit.

Ehrenmal des Heeres, Festung Ehrenbreitstein, Koblenz (Wikipedia, Michael Rose)