Peace advocator Günter Polauke pursues his journey towards tranquility, both on the frontier and along the path of harmony

Peace advocator Günter Polauke pursues his journey towards tranquility, both on the frontier and along the path of harmony

**Günter Polauke's Green Belt Hike: A Symbol of Peace and Unity**

Günter Polauke, a 76-year-old Berliner, is currently hiking the Green Belt, a significant event that highlights the importance of peace and environmental conservation. The Green Belt, also known as the European Green Belt, is a corridor of wilderness and protected areas that stretches along the former Iron Curtain, which once divided Europe into Eastern and Western blocs.

## A Historically Significant Journey

The Iron Curtain, established after World War II, was a physical and ideological barrier that separated Eastern Europe, under Soviet influence, from Western Europe. The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 marked a new era of peace and unity in Europe. Polauke's hike along the Green Belt is a symbolic gesture of peace and reconciliation, emphasizing the transformation of former divisions into areas of shared natural and cultural heritage.

## A Man of Passion and Purpose

Polauke, as a long-distance hiker, is driven by a passion for nature and a desire to promote peace and understanding. His personal journey is not just about covering distances but also about shining a light on the historical significance of the areas he traverses. By sharing his experiences, Polauke aims to bring people together and foster a sense of shared responsibility for the planet's natural resources.

## A Message of Peace and Unity

Polauke's hike along the Green Belt conveys a powerful message of peace and unity. By walking through areas that were once heavily militarized and restricted, he highlights the potential for former conflict zones to become symbols of peace and coexistence. His journey promotes a vision of a world where borders are not barriers but opportunities for mutual understanding and cooperation.

## Accompanied by a Fellow Peace Advocate

Accompanying Polauke on this historic hike is an Israeli named David Shalom. The hike along the former death strip was a deeply moving experience for Shalom, symbolising the transformation of a once hostile border into a symbol of peace and unity.

## Encounters Along the Way

Encounters during the hike reveal a mix of fear of new wars and hope for reconciliation. Polauke discusses the function of the former border installations and the political situation of the time during his hike, fostering meaningful conversations and fostering a sense of shared history and understanding.

## A Life of Transformation

Polauke's life has been marked by transformation. He was a former DDR border soldier, a former SED district mayor of Berlin-Treptow, and was part of the DDR power structure from 1986 until the political upheaval in 1989. After the Wende, he resigned voluntarily and took a new path, working as a waste sorter in a Berlin HO department store and later becoming a manager in an international real estate company.

However, Polauke's life has not been without controversy. In 1993, he was convicted for electoral fraud, a dark chapter in his biography. Despite this, Polauke continues to be a colourful figure in German history, using his experiences to promote peace and understanding.

## A Symbol of Reconciliation and Unity

The Green Belt serves as a space of connection, where people meet, exchange ideas, and let borders in their minds disappear. More and more people are discovering the Green Belt as a hiking path, a place of remembrance, and a symbol of unity.

Polauke shares more impressions and current stations of his hike over the Green Belt on his Instagram channel (instagram.com/guenter_polauke). Through his journey, Polauke transforms former divisions into symbols of unity and shared human values, inspiring others to embrace the beauty and potential of the European Green Belt.

• Polauke's passionate hike along the Green Belt, a historical corridor of wilderness, serves as a symbol of the transformation of divided Europe into a shared home-and-garden of natural and cultural heritage.
• The journey of Günter Polauke and fellow peace advocate David Shalom, as they hike through the Green Belt, is not just a travel adventure but a testament to the power of peace and unity, transforming former conflict zones into symbols of coexistence.

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