Schwesig warns: actively defend democracy on November 9th!

Schwesig warns: actively defend democracy on November 9th!

On November 9, 2025, a moving signal for democracy was set in Schwerin. Manuela Schwesig, Prime Minister of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, recalled the profound historical events anchored on this date. In her speech, she emphasized the significance of November 9th in German history. While the day also represents positive turning points such as the proclamation of the Weimar Republic in 1918 and the fall of the Wall in 1989, it is also inextricably linked to the dark past of the pogrom night of 1938, which sparked a wave of violence against the Jewish population in Germany and Austria.

During the night of the pogrom, numerous synagogues were set on fire, Jewish shops and institutions were vandalized, and the police were given explicit orders not to intervene. This heinous chapter of history claimed hundreds of lives and more than 30,000 Jewish men were sent to concentration camps. Schwesig made it clear that the horrors of that night - which marked the transition from discrimination to open persecution - are a reminder to actively defend democracy and not to forget the lessons of history. She explained that the failed Weimar Republic reminds us urgently that freedom and good must be spared.

A day of memories and hope

November 9th is not only a date for reflection on terrible events, but also a symbol of hope and solidarity. Schwesig emphasized that the fall of the Wall in 1989 demonstrated the courage of the people who united for freedom and democracy. “When people stand together, anything is possible,” she said. She continued the meeting with her colleague Daniel Günther, Prime Minister of Schleswig-Holstein, at the former inner-German border in order to promote dialogue about the meaning of this shared history. Today there were also celebrations to mark the 35th anniversary of the town twinning between Boizenburg and Lauenburg, which underlines the idea of ​​solidarity and mutual understanding.

A look at the stories surrounding November 9th shows that the day also offers opportunities to remember history and raise awareness of one's own responsibility. The “October 3rd – Germany sings and sounds” initiative, for example, reminds us how important it is to actively shape democracy. Sing-along concerts in many cities invite people to come together to speak and sing for peace, unity and freedom of expression, which is deeply rooted in German cultural life and sets an example for common coexistence.

The open exhibition “Your Places in the History of Democracy” shows how democracy is fought for, defended and developed further in Germany. Such projects are indispensable for keeping the collective memory alive and inspiring people in their pursuit of freedom and participation.

In view of the change in society as a whole, Schwesig's warning remains unmistakable: We must defend the values ​​of democracy with all our might. November 9th is a call to act consciously and to use the experiences of the past to fight for a better future and to protect the goods we have fought for together.

For more in-depth information about the history of democracy in Germany, see the articles Borken newspaper, Deutschland.de and LinkedIn – History of Democracy be read.