Youth opposition during Nazi times: No special honor for "Lille" on Bernhardiplatz?
In the heart of Leipzig, a new memorial is being planned to commemorate the brave acts of the city's youth who resisted the Nazi dictatorship. The "Meuten Memorial," located on the Lindenauer Market, was initiated by the youth parliament and inaugurated in April 2025.
The Memorial, consisting of three stones (1.4m x 0.5m x 0.5m), invites visitors to linger and reflect upon the courageous actions of Leipzig's youth during a dark chapter in history. The project was developed by the Theater of the Young World (TdJW) and the collective Plus X.
The city administration has organised a participation process for a proposed memorial for all resistant youth groups, to be completed by October 2028, specifically at the Bernhardiplatz. This memorial is intended to represent all resistant youth groups, according to the city administration, and it is clarified that another memorial for youth resistance in the NS is not planned.
While the "Meuten Memorial" already encompasses the resistance of Leipzig's youth against National Socialism, there are discussions about potentially highlighting a specific local resistance youth group, the "Lille" youth group in eastern Leipzig. The stones of the "Meuten Memorial" bear an integrated LED running text, and a compromise proposal suggests exchanging ideas for the use of this technology with TdJW to temporarily focus on the "Lille" youth group.
Civil society impulses are crucial for the development of ideas for remembering the "Lille" youth group. Sascha Lange could potentially be involved in formats around the inauguration of the new memorial. A status report on alternative forms of remembrance for the "Lille" youth group can be presented to the specialist committee for culture.
The "Meuten Memorial" is equipped with a QR code for further information on the internet, inviting visitors to delve deeper into the stories of the brave youth who resisted the Nazi regime. The Memorial serves as a poignant reminder of the past, and a testament to the resilience and courage of Leipzig's youth.
- Discussions are ongoing about the potential highlighting of a specific local resistance youth group, the "Lille" youth group in eastern Leipzig, in relation to the existing "Meuten Memorial."
- Civil society impulses are important for the development of ideas regarding the remembrance of the "Lille" youth group, with Sascha Lange possibly involved in formats surrounding the inauguration of the new memorial.
