What demands did we citizens of Plauen make on 7 October 1989? We articulated an unmistakable call for change in our country, for change of the kind that so many of us had heard in Mikhail Gorbachev’s demand for perestroika and glasnost.
It was disheartening to see and experience the way in which the state, which was merely waiting for an excuse to strike back with the utmost brutality, opposed our peaceful demonstration with a demonstration of force. It was disheartening to see the way the mayor we had elected was hiding in the town hall behind a row of what were supposed to be our People’s Police and combat troops with submachine guns. On occasion of the celebration of the 'birth of the GDR in the presence of invited and proven comrades', he was evidently unable to find the courage to come out while his town was 'on its feet' and wishing to speak to him.
It was good to see the way our superintendent, Mr. Küttler, of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church walked up to the line of police, inspiring courage in us all, and urging restraint ('No violence!').
Epilogue, written in October 2009
Not everything we had thought, hoped for, and desired at the time has been fulfilled. Many things have turned out quite differently, but one thing is and remains true: Our peaceful revolution was right and long overdue!"
Martin Flach (Plauen)