December 1981: Helmut Schmidt, chancellor of the FRG, visits the chairman of the state council of the GDR, Erich Honecker. The experiences with the visit of Willy Brandt in Erfurt in 1970 have warned the state leadership: Euphoria for a federal chancellor is out of the question this time. For December 13th, the protocol plans a visit to GĂŒstrow. The Christmas market, the Barlach memorial, and the cathedral of GĂŒstrow are on the agenda. The enormous machinery of the ministry of state security is set into motion in order to ensure the âsafety of the guestâ. Erich Mielke: âNever before, such a high effort was necessary as here in GĂŒstrow.â People are temporarily arrested, inhabitants placed under house arrest, Stasi employees dressed up as âvisitors of the Christmas marketâ. And like that, the media was supposed to get presented with a favourable image of the GDR. A reconstruction of three hours of state visit to GĂŒstrow.
