Winning design for Freedom and Unity Monument presented in Leipzig

Banners, flags, banners: The winning design for the planned Freedom and Unity Monument in Leipzig has been presented. The competition was won by the joint design by architects and artists from Leipzig. The proposal convinced the jury with its abstract and concrete tribute to the protest movement and the "Peaceful Revolution" of 1989, said jury chairman Kjetil Thorsen in Leipzig.

In October 1989, 70,000 people took to the streets

For around five million euros, a Freedom and Unity Monument is to be built on Wilhelm-Leuschner-Platz in Leipzig from October 2025, which will keep the memory of the "Peaceful Revolution" of 1989 alive. Leipzig was a starting point for the peaceful Monday demonstrations. On October 9, 1989, 70,000 people took to the streets of the trade fair city and stood up for their civil rights. The planned location of the memorial is next to the former demonstration route, the inner city ring road.

Memorial to be a place of remembrance and exchange

50 objects distributed across the entire square are intended to give the viewer space for association, appropriation and participation. Courageous people made history in the autumn of 1989 and it is important to keep the memory alive, emphasized Minister President Michael Kretschmer. "The Freedom and Unity Monument in Leipzig can contribute to this as a special place of remembrance and exchange," said the CDU politician.

The monument stands for the power of the street and points to the future, explained Leipzig's Lord Mayor Burkhard Jung. "The Peaceful Revolution must continue in order to strengthen democracy," said the SPD politician.

A memorial of national significance

1989 showed that democracy can be achieved, shaped and preserved together, said Gesine Oltmanns from the Peaceful Revolution Foundation. "It is not just a Leipzig memorial, but a place of remembrance of German democratic history of national importance."

A total of 32 architects and artists from six countries submitted their proposals. The winning design is endowed with 35,000 euros.