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Greifswald's peaceful revolution: An ex-police chief breaks his silence!
Find out why the Peaceful Revolution in Greifswald in 1989 was non-violent and what role the People's Police played.
Greifswald's peaceful revolution: An ex-police chief breaks his silence!
A dramatic chapter in history unfolds: The peaceful revolution in Greifswald paints a picture of courage, hope and surprising tolerance on the part of the state. In 1989, when people in the GDR were fighting for freedom, Bernd Haase, then head of the People's Police, stood on a crucial front. "Why should I ban a demonstration? I didn't have the courage!" he admits honestly. As the regime's walls crumbled, he was one of the central figures who did not use violence to suppress the burgeoning protest.
On October 18th, around 1,000 citizens streamed into Greifswald Cathedral and experienced a historic moment. That evening, Haase knew that a protest march was planned, and it was the first large demonstration in the city. Instead of acting like he had in other cities, Haase decided to let the demonstrators do what they wanted as long as no violence was used. “On what grounds should I ban this demonstration in Greifswald?” he asks himself. Armed police remained in the background, giving the candle bearers free rein, an explosive scenario in a time of change.
The moment of truth
Haase remembered disturbing scenes in front of the entrance to the Stasi headquarters: citizens demanded entry in order to save incriminating files. “There were water hoses waiting in the hallways for possible defense,” he describes when he and his colleagues arrived there. This crucial night could have ended in chaos, but dialogue with citizens prevented escalation. It was a conscious step to de-escalate what had previously been a tense situation.
Finally, the angry people of Greifswald were allowed to inspect the Stasi headquarters while the people's police secured the secret police's weapons. Haase's decision not to stand in the way of the protesters reflected the unstoppable pressure of the population fighting for their rights. The peaceful revolution in Greifswald will not be forgotten: a courageous will for freedom that defies the rigidities of the old regime and stirs up history.