Holger Friedrich in conversation in Potsdam, what does freedom mean in East and West?
On Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m., a debate with the publisher of the Berliner Zeitung will take place in the riding hall of the Hans Otto Theater in Potsdam. The discussion will be streamed live.
How is East Germany dealing with the freedom it fought for in 1989 today? What does freedom of travel and freedom of expression mean in the context of new social crises? What differences in understanding are emerging between East and West Germany? "The Difficulty with Freedom" – under this title, DenkRaumOst – a non-profit initiative ( www.denkraumost.de ) – invites you to a special discussion this evening in the Reithalle at the Hans-Otto-Theater in Potsdam. ( The event is sold out, but will be streamed live from 7:25 p.m. on www.berliner-zeitung.de ). Three prominent personalities will discuss East German biographies, self-realization, and the question of why freedom is sometimes uncomfortable. The discussion will focus on the differences in the attractiveness of freedom of the press, freedom of expression, and travel on the one hand, and economic and creative freedom on the other. These are currently highly topical issues that have political and social implications.
Three East German voices with international visibility take part in the discourseHolger Friedrich , entrepreneur, publisher of the Berliner Zeitung, cross-border worker between business and society.
Hans-Eckardt Wenzel , musician, author, and artist, known for his critical texts about the GDR and society, as well as for his independent spirit. He is nationally and internationally successful.
Simona Stoytchkova , former executive in the international financial world and author of the book “Those from the East”, advocates a differentiated debate between East and West and democratic dialogue.
Roland Schatz , editor of the International Freedom Index & Managing Director of MediaTenor, will give a short talk to get us started.
The moderator will be Sarah Oswald (TV & radio journalist), long-time presenter of the RBB “Abendschau”.
Impulse provides a West German voice📍 Venue: Riding Hall at the Hans-Otto-Theater, Schiffbauergasse 16, 14467 Potsdam⏰ Start: Tonight, June 5, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. Live stream at www.berliner-zeitung.de 🎟 Tickets: sold out!! 🔗 Further information: denkraumost.de
The evening deliberately focuses on East German perspectives – voices that often receive too little attention nationally, despite their success both in Germany and globally. All three panelists have one thing in common: they are critical zeitgeisters – both in the GDR and today in a united Germany. Their successes are sometimes discredited, they polarize, and are considered uncomfortable – and that is precisely what makes them relevant.
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