Commemorative structures - Honor for Memorial Site at Kaßberg Prison
A renowned civil rights organization based in Germany, the Federal Foundation, has announced that a new learning and memorial facility in a former Stasi prison will receive the prestigious Karl-Wilhelm-Fricke Prize in 2024. The prize is valued at 20,000 euros and will be presented on June 13 in Berlin. The foundation praised the dedicated efforts of the association members, with a special mention of the late board member Volker Bausch.
The facility occupies a wing of a prison that had a lengthy history of being used for various purposes, from housing criminals to political prisoners and other marginalized groups, including Jehovah's Witnesses, homosexuals, and Jews. Despite the grim past of the prison on the Chemnitzer Kaßberg, it became a significant site after the war, first serving the Soviets and then the Ministry for State Security of the German Democratic Republic (GDR). It played a crucial role in freeing political prisoners kept by the Federal Republic from GDR's clutches.
Established in 2017, the Karl-Wilhelm-Fricke Prize recognizes commendable contributions to freedom, democracy, and civil courage. Past recipients include the human rights organization Memorial International, the East German civil rights leader Freya Klier, and the Initiative Group Youth Detention Center Torgau.
In addition to the main prize, the foundation has also announced a special award for the author Peter Wensierski. This award acknowledges his work in countering distorted representations of the GDR, while also making significant contributions to understanding the communist dictatorship. Wensierski's book, "Jena-Paradise," recalls a young dissident named Matthias Domaschk who died under mysterious circumstances in the Gera Stasi Prison in 1981 at the age of 23.
The Foundation has also decided to present a special young talent prize to Leonie Schöler this year. With her educational TikTok channel, Schöler has crafted educational clips about GDR history and National Socialism using engaging and easily understandable language, thus demonstrating that even fun apps like TikTok can be utilized as a platform for political education.
