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Ecumenical service in Mödlareuth
Christians in Saxony, Thuringia and Upper Franconia recalled reunification 30 years ago on Saturday in Mödlareuth. During a church service, Hof’s evangelical dean Günter Saalfrank said that at this ancient interface between East and West the gift that the fall of the Wall had been made clear. In a dialogue sermon with Saalfrank, the Catholic priest Hans-Jürgen Wiedow pointed out that there are many new walls today.
These exist mostly in people’s minds, for example between Germans and non-Germans, young and old, left and right or carefree and overly cautious, and they are “sometimes stronger than concrete”. But even these walls don’t have to be eternal, said senior cleric in the Catholic pastoral care area Hofer Land.
Town divided on the border
The town of about 50 inhabitants on the border between Bavaria and Thuringia was divided by a wall for decades. For more than 37 years it was not legally possible to cross the border to go from one part of the city to the other. That is why it was given the nickname “Little Berlin”.
At 100 meters, the wall of more than three meters high with barbed wire and self-ignition systems is part of the German-German Museum of the town. Of the West German states, Bavaria had the longest border with the GDR at 422 kilometers.
German-German museum opened in Mödlareuth
History buffs can also visit the German-German Museum, which will commemorate the unity. Due to the Corona crisis, visiting the exhibits will only be possible to a limited extent, said museum director Robert Lebegern. “We try to do our best.”
In the open-air site on the Thuringian side with the GDR barriers still intact, 200 people could be present at the same time, in the museum on the Bavarian side 70 people. “We are happy to be able to carry out the program like this,” Lebegern said. Guests would have to wear mouth and nose protection and provide their contact details. Wait times must be planned.
