How should one deal with war memorials that are no longer up-to-date or can even be interpreted in a misleading manner?
Freising's district warriors and soldiers' association discussed this
Pulling
- How does a contemporary approach to war memorials work?
This question was the central topic of the autumn conference of the Freising District Warriors and Soldiers Association (KKSV), which recently took place in Pulling.
As reported, four young city councilors from Freising submitted a cross-faction proposal to Mayor Tobias Eschenbacher in the spring under the motto "Learn from history - urge peace".
In it they demand that the war memorials of the city and the districts be checked for outdated inscriptions or symbols and, if necessary, be provided with information boards about the historical background.
(By the way: Everything from the region is now also available in our regular Freising newsletter.)
No rushes
According to the statutes, war memorials are "peace monuments", stated KKSV chairman Otto Radlmeier once again. He hoped that the four Freising City Councilors who had submitted the application would be present at the central commemoration of the city on November 13th in Neustift. The views of the delegates fluctuated: while some called it a “mess” if monuments were removed, others showed understanding for reducing and simplifying the memorials. Former Mayor Dieter Thalhammer warned against quick shots: One had to judge today's war memorials from the time in which they were erected, was a requirement. In “extreme cases” one could imagine an “explanation board” that could comment on a name, for example.
In addition, an offensive approach to the painters was warned, the idea of peace had to be emphasized.
And: It should be borne in mind that the soldiers who are listed on the memorials were "sent to war by politicians".
The term “hero” is also “a difficult term” that is also connected with the suffering that befell the victims.
"Declining willingness to volunteer"
Another topic was the lack of offspring, as Radlmeier made clear. A "declining willingness to volunteer" due to increasing "self-focus" is just as much a problem with the warriors as it is with blue-light organizations. In order to counteract this - especially because of Corona - the chairman hoped for a social process for which "expressions of solidarity" were very important. Radlmeier noted a “friendly disinterest in the Bundeswehr and the war clubs”. The last evacuation from Afghanistan showed "how important it is to have a functioning Bundeswehr" embedded in Western organizations.
District Administrator Helmut Petz stated that “a culture of remembrance is lived at the KKSV. That means remembering the victims of war and violence and thus a bit of a culture of peace. ”Just because the last wars are a long time ago, remembering and commemoration is important. The memory must be preserved in order to “warn of the dangers of war”. Not least because there are repeated efforts to relativize the terrible events in a “historical revisionist” way. One lives in an “individualized society”, admitted Petz, on the other hand 47 percent of the people in Bavaria hold an honorary position. This would support clubs, fire brigades, the BRK and more, as well as the soldiers 'and warriors' associations in their commitment to the common cause. “What is being exemplified is really exemplary. One lives community. "
Hold up the idea
Warrior and soldier associations are "an important part of society", stated Anton Frankl for the city of Freising.
The long-time city fire inspector and today's city council admitted that it was "difficult" to find members, "to interest young people".
He therefore thanked the KKSV for upholding “the request of the warrior and soldier clubs”.
It is important to admonish “point out what was”.
Because today's society is "so fast-paced that nobody thinks about it anymore".
You have to make it clear to young people that "it cannot be taken for granted the way it is."
Raimund Lex
