The
The Bundesstiftung zur Aufarbeitung der SED-Diktatur is a federal foundation under public law based in Berlin. Founded on June 5, 1998, based on the recommendations of the inquiry commissions from 1992 and 1995, the foundation has the legal mandate to promote the comprehensive examination of the causes, history, and consequences of the dictatorship in the Soviet Occupation Zone (SBZ) and the German Democratic Republic (DDR).
The main mission of the foundation is to keep the memory of the injustices that occurred and the victims of the SED dictatorship alive and to promote and strengthen the anti-totalitarian consensus in society, democracy, and the internal unity of Germany. It works closely with other institutions and partners both domestically and internationally to encourage a societal engagement with the communist dictatorships in Germany and Europe[1][2][3].
The foundation is led by a board of trustees elected for five years, which includes representatives from the Bundestag, the federal government, the state of Berlin, and particularly committed individuals. The chairperson of the board is Markus Meckel. The voluntary executive board, led by Rainer Eppelmann, is responsible for the concrete work of the foundation. The office, which has been led by Dr. Anna Kaminsky since 2001, supports the ongoing work of the foundation[1][2].
The foundation has the long-term goal of accompanying the process of German unity and participating in the international examination of dictatorships. It promotes knowledge transfer, communication, and consulting to advance the processes of examination. Through its diverse public offerings, the foundation keeps the memory of the injustices that occurred and the affected individuals alive and supports the interests of victims of political persecution[1][2][3].
Through its comprehensive work, the Bundesstiftung zur Aufarbeitung der SED-Diktatur has supported over 3600 projects in historical-political education, archive and documentation projects, exhibitions, documentary films, as well as publications and initiatives of victim associations since its founding, thus making a significant contribution to the societal examination of the SED dictatorship.
