Commemoration of victims of war and tyranny
Many places in Thuringia commemorated the dead of war and tyranny on Sunday. The central event was held in Heilbad Heiligenstadt. Thuringia's Minister President Bodo Ramelow (Left Party) thanked the state association of the German War Graves Commission for keeping the memory alive. "Only through the active involvement of generations who were not even part of the conflicts can future wars be prevented and past conflicts healed," said Ramelow, according to the State Chancellery. Reconciliation takes time.
According to the State Office for the Preservation of Monuments and Archaeology, there are more than 1000 monuments in Thuringia that commemorate wars of the 19th and 20th centuries and characterize church forecourts, cemeteries or village greens. Around 400 of them are listed because of their historical or artistic significance.
According to the state administration office, it has disbursed around 700,000 euros so far this year for the maintenance and restoration of war graves. The federal funds went to local authorities and denominational sponsors of burial sites as well as the Buchenwald and Mittelbau-Dora Memorials Foundation. The money would mainly be used for ongoing maintenance measures, and the inscriptions would also have to be kept legible and the grave markers kept safe for traffic. The administration office estimates that there are around 600 war graves in Thuringia.
The commemoration of war and tyranny in Thuringia's history is a significant annual event, drawing attention to the sacrifices of past conflicts. Visitors can learn about this history at numerous monuments, many of which are listed due to their historical or artistic significance.
Source: www.dpa.com
