Mitte in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany — Central Europe
Friedensgebet und Ausreisedemonstration
Orte der Friedlichen Revolution
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Prayers for Peace and Demonstration for Freedom
Sites of the Peaceful Revolution
| — | '89 | — |
Photographed by James Hulse, March 11, 2026
1. Friedensgebet und Ausreisedemonstration / Prayers for Peace and Demonstration for Freedom Marker
13. März 1989
Friedensgebet und Ausreisedemonstration während der Frühjahrsmesse
Ab Mitte der 1980er Jahre wollten immer mehr Menschen die DDR für immer verlassen, was auf legalem Weg nicht möglich war. Schon seit dem Herbst 1987 hatte es an den Messemontagen in Leipzig Ausreisedemonstrationen gegeben.
Am Montag während der Frühjahrsmesse 1989 versammelten sich etwa 650 Menschen zum Friedensgebet in der Nikolaikirche. Anschließend zogen vorwiegend Ausreisewillige demonstrierend durch die Leipziger Innenstadt und skandierten lautstark „Wir wollen raus!“. Wegen der zur Messe anwesenden westlichen Journalisten verhielten sich Polizei und Staatssicherheit zurückhaltend. Bereits am Abend sahen die DDR-Bürger Berichte von den Leipziger Protesten im westdeutschen Fernsehen.
Die Staatssicherheit reagierte mit der Aktion „Auslese“: Um die Situation im Bezirk Leipzig zu entspannen, sollte 4.000 Antragstellern bis zum Kirchentag im Juli 1989 die Ausreise gestattet werden. Der erhoffte Beruhigungseffekt trat jedoch nicht ein - immer mehr Menschen gingen zu den Friedensgebeten, um ihre
this page online
Foto: Fotograf unbekannt (ddp images)
March 13, 1989
Prayers for peace and demonstration for freedom to travel coinciding with the Spring Fair
From the mid-1980s onward, more and more people wanted to leave the GDR for good which was not possible through legal methods. Ever since the autumn of 1987, demonstrations for the right to leave the country had taken place on the Mondays occurring during the trade fairs in Leipzig.
On the Monday during the 1989 Spring Fair, about 650 people gathered to pray for peace in St. Nicholas' Church. In the end mainly those wanting to leave the GDR demonstrated through the city centre of Leipzig, loudly chanting "We want out!" Because of the presence of Western journalists covering the fair, police and State Security behaved cautiously. That same evening the GDR citizens watched reports of the Leipzig protests on West German television.
The State Security responded with the operation "Auslese" (meaning "selection"): in order to relax the tense situation in the Leipzig district, 4,000 applicants would be allowed to leave the country before the church congress due to be held in July 1989. The intended calming effect did not take place, however more and more people attended the prayers for peace in order to accelerate
Photographed by James Hulse, March 11, 2026
2. Friedensgebet und Ausreisedemonstration / Prayers for Peace and Demonstration for Freedom Marker
Photo: Photographer unknown (ddp images)
Erected by Stadt Leipzig and Freistaat Sachsen. (Marker Number 2.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Government & Politics. A significant historical date for this entry is March 13, 1989.
Location. 51° 20.381′ N, 12° 22.734′ E. Marker is in Leipzig, Sachsen (Saxony). It is in Mitte. It is at the intersection of Grimmaische Straße and Ritterstraße, on the right when traveling west on Grimmaische Straße. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Grimmaische Str 25, Leipzig SN 04109, Germany. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is in Europe, the European Union, Atlantic Europe, Central Europe, the Schengen Area, Western Europe, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire and specifically also the Holy Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 40. Jahrestag der DDR / 40th anniversary of the GDR (within shouting distance of this marker); Zum Gedenken an die Familie Bamberger / In Memory of the Bamberger Family (within shouting distance of this marker); Paul Fleming (within shouting distance of this marker); Fürstenhaus-Erker / Princely House Bay Window (within shouting distance of this marker); Universitätskirche St. Pauli / St. Paul's University Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Paulinum - Aula und Universitätskirche St. Pauli (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Nikolaikirche / St. Nicholas's Church
Photographed by James Hulse, March 11, 2026
3. Friedensgebet und Ausreisedemonstration / Prayers for Peace and Demonstration for Freedom Marker
The view of the marker along the street.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 18, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 16, 2026, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 6 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 18, 2026, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
