Political Scientist Proposes Redesigning Frankfurt's St. Paul's Church as Democracy Memorial
Political scientist Herfried Münkler has proposed a redesign of Frankfurt's St. Paul's Church to serve as a central memorial for German democracy. The plan aims to reflect the spirit of the March Revolution of 1848 in Germany, while acknowledging the rupture caused by the Nazi era and incorporating multimedia exhibits.
The March Revolution of 1848 in Germany, which reached its peak on March 18, is considered significant for embodying 'freedom, equality, and humanity,' according to German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Münkler suggests transforming the church into a site that emphasizes deliberation and debate among equals.
The Sites of German Democratic History foundation, established in Frankfurt am Main in 2021, reflects the city's historical significance in German democracy. It was the location of Germany's first national assembly elected by universal suffrage in 1848. Engaging with the German Revolution of 1848/49 allows for a deeper understanding of German history within a broader European context, challenging its characterization as a 'failed revolution.'
Münkler argues that the House of Democracy should tell the story of the Frankfurt Parliament, including the exile and murders of its deputies, without heroic narratives. This approach aims to spark young people's interest in the events of 1848/49 in Germany. The events resist simplification, with deep divisions among revolutionaries over political and social goals. Not all contemporaries can be neatly cast as forerunners of modern democracy.
March 18 holds extraordinary importance in German history, marking the establishment of the Rhenish-German National Convention in 1793, the climax of the March Revolution in 1848, and the first free elections in East Germany in 1990. Münkler's proposal seeks to commemorate these events and their significance in the story of German democracy.
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