From Mourning to Remembrance
Commemoration at the Walpersberg has changed profoundly over the decades. Private remembrance by survivors and relatives was followed in the GDR by state-directed ceremonies. Since 1990 a civic culture of remembrance has grown – supported by research, encounters, and education that keep memory alive.
Improvised memorials
Immediately after the war relatives of former forced labourers and local residents placed simple wooden crosses and stones in Kahla and especially Hummelshain – quiet gestures of compassion in uncertain times.
Graves and mass burials
The cemeteries of Kahla and Hummelshain received the first burial plots for REIMAHG victims. More than 1,000 names were recorded, citizens cared for the graves and the Hummelshain site was fully restored in 1980 – the beginning of public remembrance.
Unofficial memory culture
In the early GDR the REIMAHG remained a marginal topic. Small groups of anti-fascists, church members, and relatives held private rituals while large parts of the mountain were sealed off by the military.
First official memorial
For the 20th anniversary of liberation a simple obelisk was erected on the south face of the Walpersberg. Wreath-laying ceremonies and international delegations such as Viktor Proost or František Štammler shaped the new commemorative culture.
New memorial site
Because the south face was used by the military, the GDR moved the memorial in 1974 to the Leubengrund on the grounds of former camp 6. The new “Memorial to the Victims of the Jena District” became part of a network of plaques at several camp sites and remained the official memorial until 1990.
Visits and rituals
School classes, FDJ groups, and workplaces visited the memorial regularly. Runs of remembrance, DTSB races honouring Julien Saelens, and youth initiatives such as the memorial in Hummelshain castle park conveyed the antifascist narrative.
Reordering remembrance
After the political change the GDR memorial lost significance for a time. Citizens, historians, and teachers began independent research; survivors from several countries got back in touch.
Walpersberg as a learning site
Student exchanges, encounter weeks, and joint projects with Belgium, Italy, and Ukraine turned the Walpersberg into a European learning venue. Digital archives and publications supported the cooperation.
International gathering
A large remembrance event with delegations from several countries took place. Testimonies were filmed and today form an important part of the association’s archive.
Reconciliation and partnership
A school exchange led to a close partnership with Castelnovo ne' Monti. It stands for reconciliation between former perpetrator and victim nations and strengthens European remembrance culture.
Digital remembrance and education
The Walpersberg is now a place of research and learning with annual commemorations, digital offerings, online archives, and a multimedia tour. The history of remembrance itself links generations.
Construction site
Construction site
Map markers and plans for the REIMAHG construction site at Walpersberg.