Demmin: The tragedy of the mass suicide at the end of the Second World War

Demmin: The tragedy of the mass suicide at the end of the Second World War

Demmin, Deutschland - On July 9, 2025, we look back on a dark chapter of the Second World War that happened in the small town of Demmin, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Between April 30 and May 4, 1945, around 1,000 people committed suicide while the Red Army took the city. These tragic events are not only due to the immediate violence, but also to the deep fears of the population in front of the Soviet soldiers who not only looted, but also spread violence and terror.

contemporary witnesses report terrible experiences during these chaotic days. A contemporary witness, which had long been drawn by the events, told about the rape of her sister, an experience that sounded until her death. These atmosphere contributed to the desperate atmosphere, which many families pushed in Demmin. The reports on precise figures in the suicide differ, according to historian Thomas Stamm-Kuhlmann, however, generally assumed from more than 1,000 people who drowned in the rivers during this time-a tragic escape from the impending disaster

The invasion of the Red Army

The invasion of the Red Army began on April 30, 1945, when the Wehrmacht retired and the city was practically abandoned. On this day, the Wehrmacht blew the bridges over the Peene and Tollense, which drastically restricted the escape options for the population. The final case of Demmin was drawn by looting, rape and therefore brutal attacks, which increased the fear among the residents who were still worried about the life of their relatives. The destruction in the city was devastating - over 80 percent of the city center burned down.

On April 30th, the first armored brigade of the Red Army in the south of the city was sighted. While the Soviet soldiers were waiting for provisional bridges to be built, chaos and strong use of violence occurred. The shame that many citizens felt, especially women who often killed themselves in desperation not only themselves, but also their children, is one of those stories that illustrate the tragedy of these days. Historians estimate that many people still committed suicide in the first maize, often through Ertinken, poisoning or other cruel methods.

aftermath and culture of remembrance

The memories of these dark days were largely kept dead during the GDR period, and the exact numbers of suicides have remained incomplete to this day. Only in recent years have these events come back into the focus of the public after various books, films and works of art take up the topic. Especially the book by Florian Huber "Child, promise me that you shoot yourself" from 2015 caused new discussions about mass suicides.

The city has now taken steps to commemorate this part of its history. A boulder and a "garden of memory" were created, and on the anniversary of the end of the war, May 8th, the names of all suicide victims in the St. Bartholomai Church are read out. However, the commemoration is often overshadowed by right -wing extremist groups that exploit this tragedy for their ideologies. Every year there is a “funeral march” in Demmin, which often leads to counter -protests and shows society in a split light.

With a view to the elections, in which over 47 percent of those entitled to vote in Demmin chose the AfD, it becomes clear how deep the trenches are still in society. The tragedy of 1945 remains part of the collection of memories that many residents employ from Demmin to the present day. What happened back then has to be addressed again and again to prevent history from repeating.

The memory and the processing are of great importance, because in the conclusions of this human tragedy, not only the pain of the time is reflected, but also the need to deal with the past.