By bike to Vienna: Memorial tour for peace starts in Wismar!

By bike to Vienna: Memorial tour for peace starts in Wismar!

A very special bike tour is coming up: The memorial bike tour from Wismar to Vienna starts on June 27, 2025, which is dedicated to commemorating the Second World War and the founding of the United Nations. On the occasion of the end of the Second World War on May 8, 1945 and the founding of the UN on June 26, 1945, this tour will send a strong signal for peace and cohesion. The tour will be celebrated at a celebratory start on the campus of Wismar University as part of the summer festival of the Children's University, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

The tour is led by five men, including GDR cycling legend Täve Schur, who takes part in the tour in Magdeburg. The initiator of the campaign is Jörg Türmer, who explained: “We want to take a stand against forgetting.” This takes the form of an approximately 500 kilometer long route that runs along the former demarcation line, where the Western Allies met the Soviet Red Army in May 1945.

From Wismar to Vienna

On the way, the cyclists will visit various monuments, memorials and historical places that are part of the culture of remembrance of the Second World War. A total of 80 “Points of Interest” (POIs) are digitally documented so that future generations can also experience historical connections. The group is made up of members from cities such as Lübeck, Rehna and Schwerin and will cover the route in several stages. The first stage leads from Wismar to Schwerin with a stop at the memorial in Trebbow.

A highlight of the tour is the reception in Vienna, which is planned together with the Children's University and the United Nations. This reception will be accompanied by a public bicycle demonstration, in which over 50 participants have already confirmed their participation. About the website www.biketheline.de Anyone interested can register and receive information about the event.

Meaningful memory work

The memorial bike tour fits into a larger context of remembrance work. The German-French Youth Office (DFJW) has supported numerous commemorations this year, such as the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings. Such projects reinforce the importance of continually bringing historical events and their impact on the present and future into focus. Remembrance work and peace education are therefore of central importance in order to give future generations a deep understanding of orientation and peace.

For the cyclists, participation is not only a sporting contribution, but also an active commitment to commemoration and the future. The tour will be accompanied in a media-effective manner by a video partner who will record the experiences and messages of the participants. This not only promotes remembering, but also exchanges between generations and cultures.

The organizers are already looking for at least 80 cyclists to support the memorial bike tour. “It is important to us that many people join and actively participate in commemorating and promoting peace,” says Türmer in conclusion. The entire campaign promises not only sporting moments, but also unforgettable encounters and a deeper examination of our history.