Transpondo muros: Escritas da violência na República Democrática Alemã

Abstract

Considering the works “Zeit-Zeugen”. Inhaftiert in Berlin-Hohenschönhausen (1996), edited by Gabriele Camphausen, Folterzelle 36 Berlin-Pankow. Erlebnisbericht einer Stasihaft (1993) by Timo Zilli, Ein guter Kampf. Fakten, Daten, Erinnerungen 1945-1954 (1998) by politician Ewald Ernst, Die Stasi war mein Eckermann: oder mein Leben mit der Wanze (1991) by writer Erich Loest, and Geboren am 13. August. Der Sozialismus und ich (2004) by journalist Jens Bisky, the aim of this article is to sketch a brief study on the diverse forms and phases of the violence as an instrument of power, practiced by the State of the SED in the German Democratic Republic in the 40 years of its existence, as well as discuss some theoretical aspects, focusing especially on the concept of “literature as testimony”. The five analyzed reports of auto-biographical nature adopt a crucially critical tone concerning the encroachments in a totalitarian State. “Overcoming Walls” in the 20 years after the Fall of the Berlin Wall, from this point of view, implies a denouncement attitude against forgetfulness concerning a traumatic past.