The long shadow of Stalin

The Soviet memorials in Berlin and democratic society

In Berlin today there are three large memorials to Soviet soldiers who died in battle. There is no question that Germany should preserve and maintain these gravesites, especially as this was agreed in the Withdrawal Treaty. And yet dealing with this aesthetic of the victors is difficult. How should Ukrainians feel when they read on the memorial in Schönholzer Heide that the Red Army was "educated in the spirit of respect for the rights of other peoples" and have to realize that this quote comes from Stalin, who was responsible for the starvation of millions of Ukrainians? How should we deal with a culture of remembrance that has itself already become part of history?

In conversation:

Dr. Jörg Morré, Director of the Museum Berlin-Karlshorst, Berlin

Dr. Tatiana Timofeeva, historian, Frankfurt (Oder)

Andreas Otto, Member of the Berlin House of Representatives for Bündnis 90/Die Grünen, Berlin

Moderation:

Dr. Stefan Wolle, Scientific Director DDR Museum, Berlin