“You're putting out the fire with gasoline”. Wolf Biermann's Diaries—a landmark event in contemporary history

When Wolf Biermann was stripped of his citizenship following his concert in Cologne on November 13, 1976, it sparked a wave of protest both nationally and internationally. For many, his expatriation became an occasion to fundamentally question the unjust regime of the GDR. Historian Dr. Ilko-Sascha Kowalczuk is publishing, for the first time, excerpts from the extensive diaries of Wolf Biermann, a defining figure in German contemporary history. The first volume, *Ihr löscht das Feuer mit Benzin* (*You Put Out the Fire with Gasoline*), presented this evening as part of “Berlin Freedom Week,” marks the beginning of a multi-year publication series. It brings together compelling insights into the life and thought of an artist who consistently challenged the GDR regime. For many people, his songs and poems stood—and continue to stand—for freedom and self-determination.

Dr. Ilko-Sascha Kowalczuk, Research Advisor, DDR Museum

Moderator: Dr. Liza Soutschek, Research Associate, DDR Museum

In German. Free admission.

Location:
Konferenzraum DDR Museum
Sankt Wolfgang-Str. 2
10178 Berlin