Ilko-Sascha Kowalczuk liest aus »Freiheitsschock«

In the organizer's words:

As part of Berlin Freedom Week from 8 to 15 November 2025, the DDR Museum invites you to a special evening with the historian and journalist Dr. Ilko-Sascha Kowalczuk. The author will read from his book "Freiheitsschock" (Freedom Shock) and take part in the debate about East Germany's past, present and future.

Kowalczuk is one of the most influential voices in the discourse on German-German history. His basic thesis is that East German society experienced a veritable "freedom shock" with the peaceful revolution in 1989 and the subsequent reunification - a profound change that continues to have an impact to this day.

In his book, he analyzes not only the successes of unification, but also the dark sides of the unification process. He criticizes the persistence of victim roles as well as West German clichés about the East - and pleads for more personal responsibility, historical awareness and the courage to embrace democracy.

Experience a committed historian who clearly names the dictatorship of the GDR, but does not leave out the challenges of the present. Kowalczuk speaks plainly - about identity, freedom and the question of how we can shape the future together today.

For everyone who is interested in history, the present and democratic coexistence - regardless of age, gender or origin.

Admission is free of charge.