Historian Hubertus Knabe Criticizes Berlin's Move to Make DDR History Optional in Schools

In Berlin, upper secondary schools are set to make history lessons about the German Democratic Republic (DDR) no longer mandatory. This decision has drawn sharp criticism from historian Hubertus Knabe, former director of the Stasi Memorial Hohenschönhausen. Knabe argues that this is precisely the wrong step, as it undermines the teaching of East German history. He also notes that left-wing dictatorships are traditionally viewed more positively in Germany than right-wing ones, a perspective he considers problematic. The article also features Renate Werwigk, who was imprisoned in a Stasi prison and now campaigns against what she sees as historical distortion by both the Left and the AfD. The debate highlights ongoing tensions over how to remember and teach the history of the DDR.