Reunification and renaming
The years 1989 and 1990 were high points in the struggle for freedom, democracy and unity in German history. In October 1989, while the GDR was celebrating its 40th anniversary, the people of Karl-Marx-Stadt took to the streets in defence of their freedom. Shortly afterwards, Karl-Marx-Stadt no longer existed...
Chemnitz - Karl-Marx-Stadt - Chemnitz
On 1 June 1990, after 37 years as Karl-Marx-Stadt, the city was given back its original name of Chemnitz. In a referendum in April 1990, the majority of the population voted in favour of the city name Chemnitz.
As a result, the city council decided by a large majority to rename the city on 1 June 1990. Since that day, the city has once again borne its historical name of Chemnitz.
This anniversary was commemorated with the people of Chemnitz in 2015. Under the title "Chemnitz meets Karl-Marx-Stadt", a programme of events on 31 May 2015 at Neumarkt invited people to listen and join in the storytelling:
Radio play
The history of the renaming is also available to listen to. "Zwei Namen, eine Stadt - Eine akustische Zeitreise zur Um- und Rückbenennung von Chemnitz" will be available as a free audiobook download from Sunday. The radio play "Two names, one city - an acoustic journey through time to the renaming and renaming of Chemnitz" was produced to mark the 25th anniversary of the renaming. Contemporary witness and organiser of the referendum Claus Modaleck was on hand to answer questions.
25 years of reunification
Festive event with twin city Düsseldorf
Various exhibitions and events in Chemnitz commemorated German reunification 25 years ago in October 2015.
The official commemorative event was held at the Chemnitz Industrial Museum. To mark the 25th anniversary of German reunification, the city of Chemnitz also welcomed visitors from its twin city Düsseldorf, including the Lord Mayor Thomas Geisel.
Memorial to the autumn of '89
A "memorial stone" commemorates the courage of the citizens of our city during the Peaceful Revolution. This memorial stone was unveiled on 7 October 2011 on the forecourt of the Luxorpalast in Hartmannstraße, where many hundreds of people joined a silent march to the central bus stop on 7 October 1989 to express their peaceful protest in Chemnitz. The memorial stone was designed by Chemnitz artist Steffen Volmer.
On 15 December 2010, the Chemnitz City Council decided to create a memorial to the Peaceful Revolution in our city. A working group has agreed on the design and dorm of the memorial site. In addition to city councillors and artists, the working group also includes contemporary witnesses such as the former theatre director Hartwig Albiro and the former superintendent Christoph Magirius.