Krzyżowa mourns the loss of Annemarie Cordes

Annemarie Cordes *29th July
, 1951 ꝉ 22nd May 2023

“Was it daring? Or was it something much simpler: Sometimes you just have to get started without knowing where the journey will take you.” These sentences conclude a report by Annemarie Cordes on the founding meeting of the Kreisau-Initiative e. V. on 10th November 1989, which was marked by the spirit of change and the exuberance of emotions following the fall of the Berlin Wall and the first encounter between West Berliners and East Berliners interested in Krzyżowa. Annemarie Cordes enthusiastically embraced this spirit of the times. She believed in the early days of the initiative and, together with many fellow advocates, set out to make the vision of a European center for education and exchange in Krzyżowa a reality. The result has been nearly 35 years of dedication, a lifelong project.

Annemarie Cordes was a founding member and served as chairwoman of the Kreisau-Initiative e. V. for over 20 years. She was one of the co-founders of the Polish Krzyżowa Foundation for Mutual Understanding in Europe in 1990 and was actively involved in its international committees for decades. The initiative to establish Berlin’s first “Liaison Office for the Krzyżowa Foundation” in 2001 marked the beginning of the Kreisau-Initiative e. V.’s development into a Europe-wide recognised organisation supporting international youth and exchange projects. In 2004, Annemarie Cordes played a key role in founding the Freya von Moltke Foundation for the New Kreisau and supported its development until the very end. With her courage to take the initiative, her tireless dedication, and her undaunted perseverance, she shaped the Krzyżowa network. In 2016, she was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit on Ribbon.

Telling history in a way that gives voice to individual experiences alongside the historical facts was a matter of great importance to Annemarie Cordes. It is therefore no coincidence that her curiosity about the then-unknown perspectives of the women in the Kreisau Circle ("Kreisauer Kreis") became the starting point for her commitment. In the 1980s, she enthusiastically adapted the concept of oral history for educational work at the Berlin youth education center “Haus Kreisau.” Looking back, a fireside conversation in 1985 with Marion Yorck von Wartenburg, Clarita von Trott zu Solz, Rosemarie Reichwein, and Margarete von Trotha marked a pivotal moment that also led to her first contact with Freya von Moltke in 1986. Further encounters followed within what was initially an invisible network, from which the Krzyżowa Foundation for Mutual Understanding in Europe would emerge in Poland just a few years later.

In discussions about the programmatic direction of the educational and community outreach work in Krzyżowa, Annemarie Cordes had a distinctive voice and a perspective deeply rooted in her convictions: For her, Krzyżowa was first and foremost a grassroots democratic project that had emerged from the collective commitment of people from both parts of Germany, as well as from Poland, the Netherlands, and the United States. She reminded us of this identity as a non-governmental organisation and its roots in the historical legacy of the Kreisau Circle ("Kreisauer Kreis") whenever the dynamics of “day-to-day business” threatened to shift our inner compass. At the same time, she was curious to see how the younger generation was bringing the concept of “European understanding” to life. She closely followed the diverse developments in our educational work on historical and political topics, human rights, socio-ecological transformation, and inclusion.

Annemarie Cordes drew the strength for her commitment from personal encounters and relationships. For her, Krzyżowa was always also about working together with close friends, with people she personally valued. She built bridges between generations and passed on knowledge, experiences, and contacts. She took great joy in these personal encounters – whether at conferences, General Assemblys, Pentecost meetings, or simply at her kitchen table. In this way, she not only entrusted responsibility to the next generation but also encouraged others in their commitment.

Annemarie Cordes passed away in Berlin on 22nd May 2023. We have lost a friend and companion, a mentor and critical advisor, a witness to her times, and a keen observer. We feel connected to her even beyond death and remember her with gratitude.

The board members, executive directors, and staff of the Kreisau-Initiative e. V., the Krzyżowa Foundation for Mutual Understanding in Europe, and the Freya von Moltke Foundation for the New Kreisau