Jena, September 26, 2026 – In April 1982, a memorial sculpture for the late GDR regime critic Matthias Domaschk was erected at the Johannisfriedhof in Jena. Only a few days later, the State Security had the 200-kilogram artwork removed. Since then, the sculpture has disappeared without a trace.
- Event: Unexplained disappearance of the memorial sculpture for Matthias Domaschk in 1982
- Initiative: Appeal for witnesses by Pastor Andreas Simon to clarify its whereabouts
- Historical context: Symbol of resistance against the GDR regime following the death of the civil rights activist
Historical relevance as a symbol of resistance
Matthias Domaschk was a well-known civil rights activist from Jena who died under unexplained circumstances in prison in April 1981 after being arrested by the GDR State Security. His death caused deep shock among opposition circles. The limestone sculpture created by sculptor Michael Blumhagen – a human figure seeking protection – was intended to serve as a central place of remembrance.
On April 13, 1982, the figure was removed by the municipal authorities and stored in a facility on Wittenbergstraße. Files from the Ministry for State Security prove that the trail of the sculpture went cold on May 15, 1982.
Pastor Andreas Simon launches appeal for witnesses
Pastor Andreas Simon has analyzed extensive archives over the past few months and is convinced that the sculpture was not destroyed, but possibly stolen or sold abroad. Since the associated pedestal bearing Domaschk’s name is missing, it is conceivable that current owners are unaware of the artwork’s historical significance.
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In-depth literature and non-fiction books on the reappraisal of the city’s history and the opposition in Thuringia.
Background on the reappraisal of GDR history in Jena
The search for the Domaschk sculpture is part of a comprehensive reappraisal of the SED dictatorship and the activities of the State Security in Thuringia. While an honorary grave in the urn grove at the Nordfriedhof commemorates the civil rights activist today, many individual fates and repressive measures of the regime remain the subject of historical research.
The initiative is supported by the Evangelical-Lutheran Church District of Jena, among others. Information from the public is now intended to help clarify the fate of the sculpture. Anyone with relevant information regarding the events at the time, the transport, or its whereabouts is asked to contact church authorities or the responsible archives.
Source:
GDR regime critic Domaschk: Where is the memorial sculpture at his grave in Jena?
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