Luther and the Chemicals Industry - Wittenberg's Double Legacy

Both Wittenberg and the Protestant churches are coming up to a big anniversary in 2017: On 31 October 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of the Schlosskirche in Wittenberg. This event is seen as the beginning of the Reformation and sparked a worldwide movement that permanently affected people not only in Germany but also in many parts of the world.

Some 500 years later, only about ten percent of Wittenberg’s 30,000 inhabitants call themselves Christians. In the secular society of the former Communist East Germany, it was difficult for Christians to stand up for their beliefs. Furthermore, the region was an important chemical industry cluster in the so-called “workers’ and peasants' state.” In the 1970s, the city could almost have been even renamed “Chemical City Wittenberg.” In view of this tense relationship between Luther and the chemicals industry and against the background of preparations for the anniversary of the start of the Reformation, we talked to people living in Wittenberg. What do they think of the elaborate preparations for the upcoming anniversary in their city?

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