Event Information at a Glance
- What: Memorial concert for voice and organ
- When: Thursday, February 26, 2026, 7:30 PM
- Where: Katholische Kirche St. Johannes Baptist, Wagnergasse, Jena
- Who: Students of IGS „Grete Unrein“ & KMD Martin Meier
- Admission: Free
Jena. It is a date burned deep into historical memory, marking the beginning of the end of the first German democracy: the Reichstag fire on the night of February 28, 1933. Over nine decades later, the warning for vigilance is more relevant than ever. In Jena, students of the Integrierte Gesamtschule (IGS) „Grete Unrein“ are addressing this historical event and organizing a special kind of memorial event.
A Musical Project Against Forgetting
Five senior students have dealt intensively with the topic as part of their history lessons. Under the direction of their teacher Toralf Schenk, the result was not a dry presentation, but a touching concert program for voice and organ. The young people invite the public this coming Thursday, February 26, 2026, at 7:30 PM to the Katholische Kirche St. Johannes Baptist in Wagnergasse.
The artistic basis of the evening consists of texts by the poet Armin Juhre and compositions by Lothar Graap. The combination of spoken word and the powerful acoustics of the church organ is intended to create space for reflection. The student project is musically supported by a professional: Church Music Director Martin Meier will provide the organ accompaniment and shape the evening together with the youth.
Historical Context: The Path to Dictatorship
The occasion for the concert could hardly be more significant. The fire of the Reichstag building in Berlin was immediately used by the National Socialists as a pretext to suspend the fundamental rights of the Weimar Constitution. The subsequent “Reichstag Fire Decree” formed the legal basis for the persecution of political opponents and the path to the totalitarian Nazi dictatorship.
The fact that young people in Jena are engaging so intensively with this turning point today is a strong signal. The event is intended not only as a retrospective history lesson but explicitly as a “plea for vigilance and democracy.” In a time when political discourse is becoming harsher again, the students of „Grete Unrein“ are setting an example for civic engagement and the defense of democratic values.
Cultural Venue Wagnergasse
The choice of location underlines the contemplative character of the event. The Katholische Kirche in Wagnergasse, often a haven of peace amidst Jena’s busy pub mile, provides the appropriate setting for this commemoration. The project also demonstrates how effectively the cooperation between educational institutions and church cultural organizations works in the city on the Saale.
Admission to this evening is free. The organizers hope for numerous visitors who wish to pause and remember together with the students.
Source:
Konzert erinnert an Reichstagsbrand
Transparency Note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.