SED Victim Representative Demands Mandatory DDR History in German Schools

Evelyn Zupke, the federal government's representative for SED victim affairs, is advocating for the mandatory inclusion of East German (GDR) history in school curricula across Germany. She argues that the injustices of the GDR are not being sufficiently addressed in education, stating, "DDR-history is often not taught in schools in a binding enough way. That is a problem." Zupke believes every student should visit a memorial site dedicated to the "second German dictatorship" at least once. She emphasized the need to find ways to ensure the topic is covered adequately in both eastern and western parts of the country, despite the federalized education system. Her goal is for students to understand that the GDR "was a dictatorship and an unjust state."

Zupke expressed concern that the SED dictatorship could become "a mere footnote in history," particularly as the generation of contemporary witnesses diminishes. She noted that approximately 37,000 people currently receive "victim pensions," a monthly benefit for those imprisoned for political reasons in the GDR for more than 90 days. Ahead of the 65th anniversary of the Berlin Wall's construction, Zupke highlighted the ongoing relevance of remembering the GDR's oppressive nature. "The injustice at the Berlin Wall and the inner-German border show us all too clearly that the GDR was a dictatorship," she stated. "Anyone who glorifies the GDR today is not only forgetting history. It is also a slap in the face to thousands of victims of political violence in the GDR."

She also pointed to the scale of political persecution, estimating that between 1945 and 1989, around 250,000 political prisoners were held in GDR detention centers and youth correctional facilities. Additional victim groups included those forcibly resettled and individuals subjected to systematic psychological "disintegration" by state institutions. Zupke's push aims to ensure that the historical reality of the GDR's authoritarian regime and its impact on victims remains a significant part of German collective memory and education.