When does the event take place?

On 30.09.2026 at 19:00 in the Cultural Forum Schleswig-Holstein-Haus in Schwerin.

Where is the event venue?

In the Cultural Forum Schleswig-Holstein-Haus, Puschkinstr. 12, 19055 Schwerin.

What is the admission fee?

The admission fee is 2 euros. Members of the Historical Society Schwerin have free admission.

What is the content about?

The focus is on the plane crash on December 12, 1986, the reactions of the East German leadership, and the ongoing effects for those affected.

Will there be a book presentation?

Yes, Matthias Baerens will present his research and the book Grief Under Control.

Is the event suitable for those interested in local and contemporary history?

Yes, the evening combines local history, East German study, and historical research.

An emotional evening about East German grief, memory, and Schwerin's hidden history

Name: Matthias Baerens reads: Grief Under Control in Schwerin
Start: 2026-09-30T19:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-09-30T20:30:00+02:00
Location: Kulturforum Schleswig-Holstein-Haus

An evening about memory, responsibility, and the still palpable effects of a plane crash

With his reading and lecture at Forum.STADT.Geschichte, Matthias Baerens brings to the forefront an event that deeply shaped Schwerin: the plane crash on December 12, 1986, and the state control of grief in East Germany. The evening combines historical research, literary condensation, and political processing into a compelling cultural experience.

When History Becomes Personal

Baerens does not speak abstractly about the past, but rather about concrete biographies, archives, eyewitnesses, and repressed memories. At the center is the question of how a state deals with loss when empathy and public expression are controlled. This is where the unique literary quality of the evening lies: facts are not recited dryly, but condensed into a clear, moving narrative.

Schwerin as a Place of Resonance

The connection to the city of Schwerin is particularly strong. A school class from Großer Dreesch was on the plane, returning from a class trip to Minsk. The tragedy left not only individual grief but also a collective memory that still resonates today. Those interested in local history, East German history, and the mechanisms of historical memory will find an evening of great scholarly richness.

Reading Atmosphere at the Schleswig-Holstein-Haus Cultural Forum

The venue at Schleswig-Holstein-Haus provides the appropriate setting for a lecture that combines intimacy and historical precision. In the historic rooms, a quiet reading atmosphere emerges, creating space for concentration, reflection, and discussion. The cultural forum has long been an established part of Schwerin’s cultural life for lectures, readings, and exhibitions.

A Book that Opens Archives

Matthias Baerens will present his extensive research this evening and provide insights into the work on the book Grief Under Control. This includes files, eyewitness reports, and the perspectives of those affected, who have long been rarely heard publicly. The evening is aimed at an audience that appreciates literary research, historical context, and political education.

Conclusion: Those attending this evening will not experience an ordinary reading but rather an encounter with the author that is both precise and moving. The audience can expect a savvy historical contextualization, strong personal connections, and an intense look at a repressed chapter of German history. Must be experienced live.