The focus was on the two contemporary witnesses Ursula Meckel and Dr Angela Kunze-Beiküfner. The two pastors spoke from their personal experience about the time before the fall of the Berlin Wall, the period of reunification and the challenges of German reunification. Ursula Meckel, a woman of outspoken words, realised early on what consequences system-critical behaviour could have in a socialist state. She was "expelled" from a special school for mathematics in 1966 for an essay on the subject of "This is socialism" and managed with courage and determination to follow her own path to her dream job as a pastor, relying on the people who supported her along the way.
Dr Kunze-Beiküfner gave a particularly impressive account of her peaceful resistance in the autumn of 1989. 25 years old at the time, she had been active in the church peace movement in the GDR since the age of 16 and decided on a non-violent protest and began a fast in the Gethsemane Church in Berlin as a sign of resistance.
The lively stories of both contemporary witnesses moved the more than 50 listeners from Saxony-Anhalt and Lower Saxony. In addition to joy and gratitude for the achievements of the reunification, thoughtful voices were also heard about the unintended developments of the following years. Here, too, the change in society as a whole was considered with a particular focus on women. The importance of democracy continuing to exist and not being jeopardised by demagogues was also particularly emphasised. We must continue to fight for this and raise our voices.
After the discussion with contemporary witnesses, the guests took the opportunity for a personal exchange over a small snack. The response to the event was consistently positive, and many participants expressed the desire to continue this important dialogue.