Deep in mourning we announce the death of a co-founder and co-creator of our foundation, Ludwig Mehlhorn. He died 3rd May in Berlin at the age of 61 after a long battle against illness. Ludwig Mehlhorn was a precursor of the Polish – German understanding, a long-term member of the Foundation Governing Body and a big friend of Krzyżowa.

In 2010 he celebrated his 60th birthday with his family and friends. He was diagnosed with cancer in September and his treatment started immediately. He last visited Krzyżowa in January 2011.

We send our sincere condolences to the family and friends.

Ludwig Mehlhorn (born in 1950), a matemathician and a former associate of Aktion Sühnezeichen in Poland where he set up close relations with members of the Clubs of Catholic Intelligentsia from Warszawa, Kraków and Wrocław. He was an active member of the anticommunist opposition and civil movements in the German Democratic Republic. He lost his job as a ICT technician at Berlin School of Economics in 1985 because of his participation in the democratic movement. He was an editor of the German publications of the second circulation.

In 1989 he co-founded Demokratie Jetzt. From 1992 he worked at the Evangelical Academy in Berlin. He was one of the founders of the Krzyżowa for European Understanding Foundation and a co-author of the famous “Rejecting the Lie. The History of defiance and antitotalitarian opposition in the XX century” (“Odrzucając Kłamstwo. Z historii oporu i opozycji antytotalitarnej w XX wieku”) exhibiton in Krzyżowa. A member of the Kreisau-Initiative Berlin e.V. Association, a laureate of the DIALOGUE award presented by the Polish – German Association in 2009.

In his speech addressed to the DIALOGUE award winners Władysław Bartoszewski said about Ludwig Mehlhorn and Wolfgang Templin:

“The laureates of the DIALOGUE award, as I said before, contributed a lot to the dialogue between the Poles and Germans, and all that in a time of common hypocrisy when reinforcing antagonisms was covered by the authorities with official declarations of friendship. The communist regime leaders knew very well how to manipulate their nation’s nationalistic prejudices. Instrumentalization of emotions was easily achieved in the atmosphere of traumatic Polish – German relations. Against all odds, Wolfgang Templin i Ludwig Mehlhorn were setting links with the opponents of the regime in Poland and used that as a motivation for their further activities. Presenting them with the DIALOGUE award in this special jubilee 2009 year is well deserved and long awaited a gesture.”

Celebrating 30 years of Solidarity the European Solidarity Centre thank all foreigners who supported Poland on her long and difficult way to freedom and democracy and institute a special Medal of Gratitude. In 2010 it was presented to Ludwig Mehlhorn. Unfortunately, he did not manager to collect it in person from the Polish ambassador in Berlin, Marek Prawda.

More about Ludwig Mehlhorn:

http://havemann-gesellschaft.de

http://www.chronik-der-wende.de

Ludwig Mehlhorn – work, publications and photo:

http://www.eaberlin.de