Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, a borough of Berlin is the twin town / sister city of Split, and as the famous writer lived there for 18 years, there is a plan to commemorate him in the new school being built in Split.
The city of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf has been a twin town /sister city of Split city since 1970, and on May 5, 2016, we bring you the story about the famous writers of both cities; Marko Marulić and Erich Kӓstner. Marko Marulić (Marcus Marulus Spalatensis), born in Split 1450, is considered to be the father of Croatian literature, and since the year 2000, his monument graces Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf.
Many Croatians live in that part of Berlin, and this was a way for the city to commemorate both its friendship with Split and its citizens of Croatian origins. As Split wants to return the gesture, there is an initiative to build a statue to commemorate Erich Kӓstner, a famous German writer very popular in Croatia, who lived in Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf from 1927 to 1945.
Kӓstner’s work is a part of the reading program in Croatian schools, so it is the best way to mark the friendship between two cities. As vice mayor of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, Mr. Herrn Carsten Engelmann is currently visiting Split, just in time to celebrate the day of the city’s patron. He joined Split city officials on a tour of the construction site of the new school in Split’s Pazdigrad district.
The new school will include a memorial area to commemorate writers and dignitaries. The only thing left to decide is whether Kӓstner will get his own monument or if he will be commemorated in some other form.
