Tragic memories: Winnenden and the thirst for community

Tragic memories: Winnenden and the thirst for community

A hot Friday afternoon in Winnenden: The temperature rises to 30 degrees and the air is filled with the sounds of Swabian pop music. In the “D-Zügle” pub, located right next to the train station, a man stands with a cigarette in his hand and enjoys a beer. A large German flag hangs behind him, while a VfB Stuttgart pennant complements the image of the inviting restaurant. The winter garden, somewhat sealed off by a plastic tarpaulin, gives the pub a special charm. A single taxi is waiting for a guest in front of the “D-Zügle”.

But while life in the pub seems vibrant and carefree, the author's thoughts are reminded of the dark events that shook Winnenden in 2009. At that time, a 17-year-old boy killed 15 people at his former school before taking his own life. The tragedy left a wave of horror in the city and beyond. The events led to a tightening of gun laws in Germany and doubled the number of school psychologists in Baden-Württemberg. The perpetrator's family also had to completely reorganize their lives and start with a new identity after the father was convicted of manslaughter because he did not properly secure his weapons.

Reflection on the past and present

While the author lingers in the “D-Zügle” and plays the song “Biervampir” by the punk band Normmahl, he reflects on the current challenges. Normahl, founded in 1978, now consists of field workers, social workers and sanitation specialists and their songs often focus on the search for one's own place in a complex world. The song's refrain, "Oh, I'm the beer vampire," speaks of an unquenchable thirst in more ways than one.

The shooting spree in Winnenden not only had a lasting impact on the city itself, but also on social perception
Leave traces. The media coverage of the crime was heavily criticized, something that reporter Knut Bauer also discussed in an archive radio conversation in 2019. The shock of 2009 lives on and colors the perception of the city, which is known not only for its tragedy but also for its cultural peculiarities.

A place of memory

Winnenden, which is also known for the Kärcher high-pressure cleaning company and the Maurer bakery, offers residents a weekly market and various restaurants, including the “Jägerstüble”. These social gathering places are important for the community, especially in a place that is inextricably linked to such a tragedy. The visit to the “D-Zügle” offers the author an opportunity to process the current challenges of the world and at the same time feel a connection to the memories and history of his surroundings.