Monuments, Voids and Voices #3 A Portal to the Spanish Civil War

Authors: Lara Hurtado Garcia, Diego Siegel Moreno, Inès Ramdane

The "Gedenkstätte für die deutschen Interbrigadisten" is a monument located in Volkspark Friedrichshain, inaugurated in 1968 by the GDR. It was erected in honor of German anti-fascists who went to Spain to fight Franco alongside the left-wing government. This audio walk accompanies listeners as they discover the site and understand the monument's significance.

The walk first traces the history of the memorial to inform listeners of its origin and original function. The focus is primarily on the monument as a whole and on the commemorative plaque. The monument was originally conceived as an emblem of GDR ideology, proof of its validity. This aspect is particularly interesting because it raises questions about the bias and legitimacy of monuments. The same event was commemorated by the other side: in 1939, Hitler renamed a street "Spanische Allee" to celebrate the return of German troops who had fought alongside Franco. In 1991, the memorial was bombed, and in 1993 the plaque was modified. This information serves as an invitation to reflect on the concept of commemoration.

The walk then offers a commemorative journey for contemporary visitors. Listeners are invited to connect with the present moment and the physical reality of the monument using sounds from the street to make them aware of their surroundings. The listener is then immersed in a sensorial experience that traces the story of Hans Beimler, a German survivor of Dachau who went to fight in Spain. This includes sounds of wind, branches creaking, bomb alerts, and explosions to recreate the atmosphere. A poem by Julio Casaña is recited in different languages (Spanish, English, French, and Catalan) to emphasize the importance of newspapers for the Brigades and highlight their international aspect.

Finally, the walk shows how this monument is still relevant today by adopting a more subjective approach, with the Spanish creators personally affected by the commemoration. The monument can be viewed broadly as a symbol of the anti-fascist fight for freedom, a cause that concerns everyone.