Do you see this plaque? This is the Bernd Koberstein Plaque. It commemorates a man whose life was tragically cut short. Berndt Koberstein’s story is one of commitment. It is also a story of solidarity and a fight for justice.
Berndt Koberstein was born in Bremerhaven in 1956. He grew up in Freiburg. He became deeply involved in social causes. As a young man, Koberstein trained as a machine fitter. He then became active in the IG Metall union. His experiences shaped his communist beliefs. He joined the Socialist German Workers Youth and the German Communist Party.
After his apprenticeship, Koberstein worked at Ford in Cologne. Later, he retrained as a dental technician in Freiburg. In 1983, Koberstein traveled to Nicaragua with a DKP brigade. He assisted in building a printing house. The printing house was named “Los Muchachos.” Nicaragua had just emerged from a dictatorship through revolution.
The Freiburger Arzt Albrecht “Tonio” Pflaum was murdered near Wiwilí. He was killed by the Contras. The Contras were a paramilitary group financed by the USA. They aimed to overthrow the new government. A friendship circle formed in Freiburg to honor Pflaum. Koberstein returned to Nicaragua as a project leader. His mission was to establish a drinking water supply for Wiwilí.
After several months of work, tragedy struck. Koberstein was ambushed. It happened on his way back from Matagalpa. The Contras murdered him. Two other aid workers and three Nicaraguans also died. Berndt Koberstein was buried in Matagalpa.
The Bernd Koberstein Plaque serves as a reminder. It reminds us of his dedication to international solidarity. In 1988, Freiburg and Wiwilí established a town partnership. Wiwilí became an official partner city of Freiburg in 2015. A memorial plaque on the Wiwili Bridge honors Koberstein and Pflaum. A primary school in Matagalpa is named after him. The water pipeline Koberstein planned was completed in 1990.
Since 2012, Freiburg has awarded the Berndt Koberstein Prize. It recognizes outstanding commitment to international solidarity. The prize is worth 10,000 Euro. The Bernd Koberstein Plaque is more than a memorial. It embodies the spirit of solidarity. It also embodies the pursuit of a better world.