In the end, it had become quiet around him. But Friedrich Schorlemmer was hardly ever quiet for most of his life. Now the theologian and civil rights activist has passed away.
Wittenberg – He was one of the sharpest critics of the regime in East Germany. In the autumn of 1989, he became one of the most prominent symbolic figures of the peaceful revolution. The theologian Friedrich Schorlemmer from Wittenberg died on Sunday at the age of 80, as former Saxony-Anhalt Minister of Culture Stephan Dorgerloh told the German Press Agency. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier honored Schorlemmer as a courageous fighter for freedom and democracy, as a man of words, conscience, and faith.
Schorlemmer made history at least twice. During a mass demonstration on November 4, 1989, at Berlin’s Alexanderplatz, he called for non-violence. His words carried weight. Even before the fall of the Berlin Wall, he was behind a spectacular action: On September 24, 1983, a blacksmith transformed a sword into a plowshare during the Protestant church day in Wittenberg. At that time, Schorlemmer was the preacher at the Castle Church in the city of Luther and a co-organizer of the event. The slogan “Swords into Plowshares” – condemned by the East German leadership – became the motto of the Christian peace movement in East Germany.
“Clever Social Democrat”
Now, Martin Dulig (SPD), Deputy Prime Minister of Saxony, recalled this. With this blacksmith action in Wittenberg, Schorlemmer gained international recognition, Dulig stated regarding the theologian’s death. “I associate him with more than just a clever social democrat from Wittenberg; he was also the theologian who actively shaped the peaceful revolution of 1989. Schorlemmer was always a wise advisor – whose thoughtful, intelligent inspirations will be missed by all of us, especially in these politically tumultuous times.”
For the Prime Minister of Saxony-Anhalt, Reiner Haseloff (CDU), Schorlemmer was “an important voice from the East.” The theologian made powerful use of the space afforded by the church. Later, he became a critical companion of German reunification, always intervening.
Left politician Dietmar Bartsch also wrote: “The death of Friedrich Schorlemmer fills me with deep sorrow. His intelligent and profoundly humane commitment to reconciliation after 1989 set benchmarks.” The current chairperson of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany, Kirsten Fehrs, described him as courageous and inspiring.
“Democracy is like a garden”
Schorlemmer was born on May 16, 1944, in Wittenberge (Brandenburg). In East Germany, he faced repression – he was not allowed to complete his Abitur at school and obtained it at evening school instead. Eventually, he studied theology at the University of Halle. Through peaceful protests and nonviolent resistance, especially during the invasion of Soviet troops in Czechoslovakia, he came under the scrutiny of state security.
During the time of the peaceful revolution, Schorlemmer was a co-founder of the “Democratic Awakening,” which included future Chancellor Angela Merkel at first. Merkel shifted to the CDU, whereas Schorlemmer joined the SPD in 1990. Steinmeier praised his high personal commitment: “Without people like him, the peaceful revolution, whose 35th anniversary we will celebrate in a few weeks, would not have been possible.”
“My life was not easy, but rich”
In addition to his work for the Protestant Church, the theologian was also active in the Wittenberg city council. “Democracy is like a garden; if you don’t tend to it, it quickly becomes overgrown,” he once said. For his tireless efforts, the city of Wittenberg honored him with honorary citizenship on October 3, 2015. Left politician Gregor Gysi remarked at that occasion: “He is absolutely incorruptible, inconvenient, critical, and never backs down.”
In 1993, Schorlemmer received the German Book Trade Peace Prize, and in 2009 he was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit. In retirement, the author of numerous books continued to raise his voice for democracy and against xenophobia. In Leipzig, he was a co-initiator of the “Foundation for a Peaceful Revolution.” He was a guest on talk shows and spoke publicly.
Former colleague Dorgerloh praised him as a “combative spirit and important admonisher for the unification of East and West.” Combative – the word was also used by the regional bishop of the Evangelical Church in Central Germany, Friedrich Kramer. He simultaneously called Schorlemmer a voice for peace, democracy, and justice.
The theologian was not afraid to tell the powerful their opinion. This also had to be heard by the then Federal President Joachim Gauck, who was also part of the civil rights movement at the end of East Germany. Schorlemmer publicly criticized Gauck’s remarks on German military missions abroad. In hindsight, he once said: “My life was not easy in many ways, but it was rich.”