When does the online lecture take place?

The date is on 16.09.2026 from 18:00 to 19:30 hours.

Is the event chargeable?

No, the online lecture is free of charge.

Who is at the center of the conversation?

The focus is on Nadja Klier and Ingo Hasselbach with their experiences of dictatorship, radicalization, and new beginnings.

Is the event moderated?

Yes, the conversation is accompanied by Knut Elstermann.

Is there a physical venue?

It is an online lecture, so no classic hall is specified on-site.

Who is the evening suitable for?

For anyone interested in contemporary history, political education, memory culture, and biographical narratives.

Knut Elstermann: Total Upheaval Bayreuth 2026

Name: Knut Elstermann: Total Upheaval - Stasi, Neo-Nazi, New Beginning
Start: 2026-09-16T20:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-09-16T21:30:00+02:00
Location: Online-Vortrag

When German biographies intersect with history: An online lecture on upheaval and responsibility

This online lecture provides an intense look at the upheavals of the German division and the breaks of the post-reunification period. At the center are Nadja Klier and Ingo Hasselbach, whose life paths represent surveillance, exclusion, radicalization, and the challenging path of new beginnings. The conversation is moderated by Knut Elstermann, who combines historical experience, political education, and narrative precision. ([vhs-braunschweig.de](https://www.vhs-braunschweig.de/kurssuche/kurs/Totaler-Umbruch-Stasi-Neonazi-Neuanfang/CDPS22CL?utm_source=openai))

An evening between contemporary history and current issues

The reading atmosphere of such a format thrives not on distance, but on the immediacy of personal memory. Here, history is not handled as an abstract chronicle but as an experience of control, loss, and liberation. The series “Shared History, Common Future. German Unity in Conversation” starts exactly there: It aims to impart knowledge, promote understanding, and open up discussion spaces for the present. ([vhs-braunschweig.de](https://www.vhs-braunschweig.de/kurssuche/kurs/Totaler-Umbruch-Stasi-Neonazi-Neuanfang/CDPS22CL?utm_source=openai))

Nadja Klier and Ingo Hasselbach: Biographies under the Microscope

Nadja Klier was born in 1973 in Dresden and experienced expatriation in 1988 as a vital turning point. Ingo Hasselbach evolved from a punk to a leading neo-Nazi in East Germany and later found his way out of the scene. This range makes the evening as literarily as politically significant: It tells of the fragility of identity, ideology, and the possibility of reinventing oneself. ([vhs-braunschweig.de](https://www.vhs-braunschweig.de/kurssuche/kurs/Totaler-Umbruch-Stasi-Neonazi-Neuanfang/CDPS22CL?utm_source=openai))

A format with cultural-political relevance

The lecture combines linguistic art with historical contextualization. Knut Elstermann, known as a film critic, moderator, and author, brings that clear, observational perspective that makes complex contemporary issues accessible without oversimplifying them. Thus, the evening appeals not only to politically interested individuals but also to literature enthusiasts interested in biographies, narrative forms, and public memory culture. ([dichterlesen.net](https://www.dichterlesen.net/personen/detail/knut-elstermann/?utm_source=openai))

What visitors can expect

A focused online lecture with a conversational character is expected, merging historical enlightenment with personal testimony. The event is free of charge and is part of a nationwide online series on German Unity. Those seeking high-level political education will experience a thoughtful, dense, and current evening. ([onlinevhs.bayern](https://onlinevhs.bayern/p/politik-gesellschaft-umwelt/geschichte-zeitgeschichte/totaler-umbruch-stasi-neonazi-neuanfang-648-C-262-2201?utm_source=openai))

Conclusion: This online lecture offers a rare access to German contemporary history that touches and resonates. Anyone wanting to understand how dictatorship, extremism, and new beginnings inscribe themselves in life stories should follow this date live. ([vhs-braunschweig.de](https://www.vhs-braunschweig.de/kurssuche/kurs/Totaler-Umbruch-Stasi-Neonazi-Neuanfang/CDPS22CL?utm_source=openai))