Peace Pole Planting and Otto Hertz Memorial, in Bad Düben, Germany

Submitted October-2025

On Saturday, September 20th, 2025, a meaningful ceremony took place at the Evangelische Schulzentrum in Bad Düben, Germany, honoring the legacy of Otto Hertz, a renowned school reformer. This event featured both a flag ceremony and the planting of a Peace Pole, symbolizing the school’s commitment to the theme “May Peace Prevail On Earth” for the 2025 academic year.

The school now boasts both an indoor and an outdoor Peace Poles. Margaret Raspfeld, the former headmaster and advocate of the “Fridays for Future” movement, delivered a heartfelt speech. She held a mini desktop Peace Pole underscoring the project’s importance and its historical roots.

Otto Hertz was a passionate supporter of the Peace Pole initiative, which began in 1969 with Japanese peace activist Masahisa Goi. This ceremony beautifully honored that legacy and the spirit of peace.

Information submitted by:  Dagmar Berkenberg, MPPOEI, European office