The historian Ilko-Sascha Kowalczuk has published the first-ever excerpts from Wolf Biermann’s diaries. The opening volume, *Ihr löscht das Feuer mit Benzin* (*You Put Out the Fire with Petrol*), portrays the singer-songwriter as a ruthlessly self-critical observer of both himself and the political situation in East and West.
Image gallery
Cover "Ihr löscht Feuer mit Benzin" Wolf Biermann Tagebücher
Encounters with figures such as Willy Brandt, Robert Havemann and Rudi Dutschke make the work both a social novel of a divided Germany and provide previously unknown insights into Wolf Biermann’s life.
Prof. Dr Daniela Münkel (Federal Archives – Stasi Records Archive) will moderate the discussion that follows.
Admission is free. No registration is required, except for the supporting programme.
Supporting programme:
5.00 pm Free guided tour of the exhibition ‘Einblick ins Geheime’ at the Stasi Records Archive
Meeting point: Building 7, foyer; duration: 45 mins
Registration: einblick-ins-geheime@bundesarchiv.de or by telephone on 030 18 665-6770
The book launch is part of the ‘Lesebühne’ series of events.
The series is organised in cooperation with the Robert Havemann Society e.V.
IN GERMAN
Additional information
Admission is free. No booking is required, except for the supporting programme.
Supporting programme
5.00 pm Free guided tour of the exhibition ‘Einblick ins Geheime’ at the Stasi Records Archive
Meeting point: Building 7, foyer; duration: 45 mins
Registration: einblick-ins-geheime@bundesarchiv.de or by telephone on 030 18 665-6770
The book launch is part of the ‘Lesebühne’ series of events.
Accessibility
Unfortunately, the entrance to the event hall is not accessible to people with disabilities.
Dates
October 2026
| Mo | Tu | We | Th | Fr | Sa | Su |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
| |||
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
30
|
31
|
