Controversial Lenin monument in Schwerin: Citizens resist demolition!

Controversial Lenin monument in Schwerin: Citizens resist demolition!

The debate about the Lenin monument in Schwerin is becoming more explosive. The imposing bronze statue has been enthroned in the Dreesch district since 1985, and residents are anything but enthusiastic about the current plans to demolish the monument. RF news reports that Mayor Rico Badenschier (SPD) supports the decision to place the statue under monument protection. He describes the figure as an important cultural and political testimony that is part of German history.

The State Office for Monument Preservation has already considered the idea of ​​protecting the Lenin monument as a memorial to a fallen state. But this proposal is met with resistance. In a letter of protest, the Union of Victims' Associations of Communist Tyranny (OUKG) criticizes Lenin as the founder of a totalitarian system and calls for a comprehensive examination of the crimes of communism. The discussion about Lenin's legacy is anything but monotonous.

Now what about the statue?

The residents in Dreesch are alarmed. They see the statue not just as a controversial figure, but as a piece of their own history. Any “alienation” of the statue, for example by overgrowing it with plants or placing it in a former KGB prison, is rejected. In particular, Thore Stein, cultural policy spokesman for the AfD parliamentary group, speaks out in favor of the idea of ​​alienation in order to avoid further restructuring.

The city council will decide on the future of the monument next December. The question will also be raised as to whether and how Lenin's historical context can be appreciated. The thoughts surrounding the statue lead to a broad discussion in Schwerin about the culture of remembrance in Germany.

A look at Lenin's legacy

Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, better known as Lenin, was born on April 22, 1870 in Simbirsk, Russia. As a revolutionary politician and leader of the Soviet Union from 1922 until his death in 1924, he had a lasting impact on world history. He is considered the founder of the Bolsheviks and played a central role in the October Revolution and the subsequent establishment of the first communist state. Lenin implemented fundamental changes such as the abolition of private property and the nationalization of important industries and banks. But his legacy is complex and continues to divide opinions today. Wikipedia and Britannica illuminate both his political achievements and the authoritarian measures he introduced to keep the Bolsheviks in power.

In view of the current discussion about the monument in Schwerin, it is not least the question of collective memory that is at stake here. How do we deal with the memory of such a controversial figure? The path to the decision has been paved, but the opinions are diverse and emotive. The citizens of Schwerin can look forward to the city council's upcoming decision.