Mitte in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany — Central Europe
Erste Demonstration für Demokratische Grundrechte
Orte der Friedlichen Revolution
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First Demonstration for Basic Democratic Rights
Sites of the Peaceful Revolution
| — | '89 | — |
Photographed by James Hulse, March 11, 2026
1. Erste Demonstration für Demokratische Grundrechte / First Demonstration for Basic Democratic Rights
15. Januar 1989
Erste Demonstration für demokratische Grundrechte
Am 15. Januar 1989 versammelten sich ca. 500 Bürger auf dem Leipziger Marktplatz, um für demokratische Grundrechte zu demonstrieren. Nach einer kurzen Ansprache zogen sie durch die Petersstraße in Richtung des Geburtshauses von Karl Liebknecht, der genau 70 Jahre zuvor zusammen mit Rosa Luxemburg ermordet worden war. Erst außerhalb der Innenstadt löste die Polizei den nicht genehmigten Demonstrationszug auf und nahm 53 Teilnehmer fest.
Zur Demonstration hatten am 11. Januar 1989 Mitglieder Leipziger Oppositionsgruppen mit etwa 4.000 Flugblättern aufgerufen, die sie u.a. in Hausbriefkästen in der Stadt verteilten. Die Staatssicherheit verhaftete die Initiatoren, denen lange Haftstrafen drohten. Aufgrund DDR-weiter und internationaler Proteste sah sich die SED-Führung gezwungen, die Inhaftierten nach wenigen Tagen wieder freizulassen.
Erstmals hatten sich am 15. Januar 1989 überwiegend Bürger, die nicht in Oppositionsgruppen organisiert waren, an einer ungenehmigten Demonstration beteiligt.
Foto:
this page online
January 15, 1989
First demonstration for basic democratic rights
On January 15, 1989, about 500 people gathered at the Leipzig market place to demonstrate for basic democratic rights. After a short speech, they moved down Petersstraße in the direction of the birthplace of Karl Liebknecht, who exactly 70 years earlier had been murdered together with Rosa Luxemburg. Not until it was outside the city centre did the police dissolve the unauthorized demonstration and arrest 53 participants.
For the demonstration members of opposition groups in Leipzig had distributed some 4,000 leaflets through various methods including stuffing mail boxes in the city on January 11, 1989. The State Security arrested the initiators, threatening them with long prison terms.
Because of GDR-wide and international protests, the SED leadership found itself forced to release the detainees after a few days.
On January 15, 1989, citizens who were for the most part not organized in opposition groups had for the first time participated in an unauthorized demonstration.
Photo: Photographer unknown (ABL)
Erected by Stadt Leipzig and Freistaat Sachsen. (Marker Number 1.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this
Photographed by James Hulse, March 11, 2026
2. Erste Demonstration für Demokratische Grundrechte / First Demonstration for Basic Democratic Rights
Location. 51° 20.231′ N, 12° 22.509′ E. Marker is in Leipzig, Sachsen (Saxony). It is in Mitte. It is at the intersection of Petersstraße and Peterskirchhof, on the right when traveling north on Petersstraße. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Petersstraße 46, 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: Max Klinger (a few steps from this marker); Berühmte Bewohner am Neumarkt / Famous Residents of the Neumarkt (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); Christian Friedrich Henrici (about 150 meters away); Leipzig Disputation (about 150 meters away); Breitkopf & Härtel (about 180 meters away); Altes Konservatorium / Old Conservatoire (about 180 meters away); Guido Theodor Apel (about 180 meters away); Das Erste Gewandhaus / The First Gewandhaus Concert Hall (about 180 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Leipzig.
Photographed by James Hulse, March 11, 2026
3. Erste Demonstration für Demokratische Grundrechte / First Demonstration for Basic Democratic Rights
The view of the marker along the street.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 29, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 27, 2026, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 4 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 29, 2026, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
