Protest in Schwerin: Lenin monument meets with outraged resistance!

Protest in Schwerin: Lenin monument meets with outraged resistance!

On June 14, 2025, around three dozen representatives of victims' associations gathered in front of the controversial Lenin monument in Schwerin to protest against its continued existence. The occasion was a call to reject public honors for representatives of the tyranny. Burkhard Bley, the state representative for coming to terms with the SED dictatorship, spoke in his speech about the connection between Lenin and the so-called “Red Terror”, which cost the lives of numerous German civilians.

During the SED dictatorship alone, around 35,000 people were affected by political persecution; many were sent to forced labor camps or even sentenced to death. Bley announced a conference on the subject of these persecutions for the end of September in Schwerin. Stefan Krikowski, chairman of the Vorkuta camp community, increased the pressure on the city administration by demanding the removal of the monument and instead suggesting the construction of a monument to the politically executed Arno Esch.

A monument full of controversy

The Lenin monument, which was inaugurated in 1985 on Hamburger Allee, has long since developed into a permanent source of friction. Created by Estonian artist Jaak Soans, the statue measures an impressive 3.50 meters and was originally intended as a reminder of Lenin's decree on the expropriation of large landowners in the Soviet occupied zone. Despite a highly political background, the monument, which repeatedly sparked color attacks, still stands in the cityscape. The location at a busy intersection, surrounded by a prefabricated building, makes it a constant topic in public discourse.

However, the city administration insists that the monument is part of the historical development of the area and wants to keep it with an explanatory plaque. Archive assistant Rainer Blumenthal also criticized the incorrect inscription, which does not correctly state Lenin's name, and recommended using the monument as an opportunity for discussion. There have been several protests since it was set up, the last significant one taking place in 2015 on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the October Revolution.

A historical context

From a historical perspective, the monument is symptomatic of the culture of remembrance and monuments in Germany. Political monuments, such as these remnants of a vanished order, were erected throughout the country during the GDR era to reinforce the self-image of the SED rule. After the fall of communism in 1989, such monuments often became the target of public debates and were questioned both emotionally and factually. There was never a central order to remove them; rather, local political initiatives decided on the whereabouts of the monuments.

A real social change has become noticeable in the last few decades: some monuments have been demolished to make room for new perspectives and memories. The discussion about the Lenin monument therefore remains a sign of the ongoing conflicts about the interpretation of the German past and how to deal with its history. The Leninist legacy continues to cause political disputes and stir people's minds.

In addition to the protest, a traveling exhibition entitled “Walls – Grids – Barbed Wire” was opened in the Documentation Center for Dictatorship Victims immediately after the rally. This exhibition provides information about political persecution in the Soviet occupation zone and the GDR and thus once again shows the complex relationship between remembrance and repression in the German post-war period.

The controversy over the Lenin monument in Schwerin raises questions not only about history, but also about the present. How do we deal with the relics of a past regime whose shadow still falls over society?

This topic remains exciting and shows how deeply rooted the discussions about the remembrance of the SED dictatorship and its symbols are. The last word in this debate has certainly not yet been spoken.