Neustadt in the dialogue: renaming the Langemarckstraße creates a conversation!

Neustadt in the dialogue: renaming the Langemarckstraße creates a conversation!

The revival of historical commemoration and an open citizen discussion is no longer standing in the way of anything in Bremen. On June 26, 2025, advisory board spokesman Johannes Osterkamp (Greens) announced that an external moderation would be used to rename Langemarckstrasse in Georg-Elser-Allee. This measure is intended to promote citizen participation and ensure that all voices are heard. It is a neutral service provider that is supposed to convey between the different interest groups. The parties involved make great hope of an agreement in order to accelerate implementation afterwards and at the same time to hide the election campaign for the 2027 election. Weser-Kurier reports that the Advisory Board will vote on a corresponding decision-making proposal next Thursday.

Invitation to participate

All residents of Langemarckstraße, including residents and business people, are expected to be invited to two events. Here official representatives should explain the practical consequences of a possible renaming. The entire process aims to create a memory -political discourse in which arguments for and against renaming are discussed. At the end of this citizen participation there could be a vote, but the modalities of which still have to be clarified. It is important that the entire process is open, fair and transparent, which Easter Kamp sees as great success.

participation and financing

The documented citizen participation should also serve as an example of other districts in Bremen. The advisory board provides 5000 euros for the costs from the traffic budget traffic, while the Senate Chancellery is expected to have a reasonable cost sharing. These financial means are necessary to actively involve the citizens in the process and to support the ideas of the Georg-Elser initiative.

This initiative had already decided on December 15, 2022. On April 4, 2024, the decision of the deputation for mobility, construction and urban development followed. While the final decision of the Senate of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen is still pending, there are justified questions from the population to implement the renaming. Critical voices express concerns about memory of the victims of the battle at Langemarck and the personal effort for the residents. For a better understanding of the historical background, the Georg-Elser initiative plans to set up memory boards at various locations, which are also contained QR codes on memorials and museums. This could help strengthen the historical awareness of the population.

outlook on future memory work

Overall, the organizers hope for a positive turn in relation to the renaming. A possible celebration for the official renaming on November 8, 2024, the anniversary of Georg Elser’s attack on Adolf Hitler, could draw additional attention to this topic. The day is also a day before the anniversary of the Reich Progrom Night. Then the renaming could be presented under a suitable historical context that reinforces the meaning and future culture of remembrance in Bremen

The State Archives Bremen has already commented on the renaming and recognizes Langemarckstrasse as an important place of remembrance. The discussion about street names shows how very local identities and historical references have to be weighed against each other. A look to Berlin shows that the renaming of street names after 1990 is also a significant part of the culture of remembrance and that a profound examination of history and its perception is necessary. Strasslaerm to transform historical view.