Gaze upon the bronze bust of Georg Sacke. This isn’t just a statue. It’s a monument to resilience. It represents a life cut short a life dedicated to history and resistance.
This bust stands in memory of Dr Georg Sacke a German historian. He specialized in Eastern European history. He was born in 1902 in Kishinev Bessarabia now Chisinau. Sacke witnessed the 1917 February Revolution and the subsequent civil war as a young man.
He emigrated to Germany studying history at Leipzig University. He became involved in the socialist student movement. He even founded a local group for Russian students in Germany. Sacke later specialized in Eastern European history in Prague. He returned to Leipzig working various jobs to support himself while studying. He was a stoker gardener caretaker and handyman. He even worked at the Humanitas home for disabled children.
From 1927 to 1933 he was a research assistant and eventually a lecturer. He received his doctorate in 1929. His dissertation focused on the philosophy of history of Vladimir Solovyov. He also lectured at the Leipzig adult education center. He taught about Soviet politics economics and culture. He also taught Russian. He even habilitated in 1932. His work was about Catherine II’s Legislative Commission.
The Nazi regime ended Sacke’s academic career. He was dismissed in 1933 for his Marxist views. He was arrested and imprisoned in the Sachsenburg concentration camp. After his acquittal he was stripped of his German citizenship. Undeterred he joined the resistance group around Alfred Frank. He later found work in Hamburg. He was again arrested in 1944. He was sent to the Fuhlsbüttel and then Neuengamme concentration camps. He died on a death march to Lübeck in 1945.
This bust a tribute to his life and legacy stands as a powerful reminder. It reminds us of the fight against fascism. It stands as a testament to his unwavering dedication to his beliefs. It honors his contributions to scholarship even amidst persecution. Let us remember Georg Sacke his courage and his lasting impact.