Steinmeier talks to GDR home children about their fate

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier wants to find out more about the situation of former GDR home children during a visit to the "Geschlossener Jugendwerkhof" memorial in Torgau. A tour of the permanent exhibition is planned for Wednesday. Afterwards, Steinmeier wants to speak with contemporary witnesses.

Since 1998, the meeting place has been a reminder of the detention-like conditions under which young people were to be re-educated into "socialist personalities" in Torgau during the GDR era. With its high walls, watchtowers, guard dogs and barred windows, the so-called "closed youth work yard" there resembled a prison from the outside. According to the memorial, 4,046 young people were incarcerated there between 1964 and 1989. Officially, it was the only closed home facility in the GDR.

"The history of repressive home education continues to this day," said Manuela Rummel, Head of Education and Public Relations at the memorial. The living situation of many of those affected is still extremely precarious. In socio-political terms, too, dealing with this chapter is unavoidable, as authoritarian thinking, punishment, coercion and control are on the rise again in the name of youth welfare.

Meeting as a tribute to years of commitment from those affected

The discussion with contemporary witnesses is particularly important, adds Gabriele Beyler, board member of the sponsoring association. "We also see this as a special tribute to the decades-long commitment of many of those affected - and at the same time a sign for all those who cannot or can no longer sit at the table on this day."

The idea for Steinmeier's visit was born almost seven years ago. At that time, representatives of the sponsoring association were at Bellevue Palace and had drawn attention to the situation of former GDR children in care. The Federal President then expressed his interest in visiting the memorial.