From the leftover pits, people try to recreate a sense of home

Eric Recknagel met with Jörg Hertel, chair of the Lignite Heritage Association (Traditionsverein Braunkohle e.V.), in Lauchhammer to talk about the city’s history. Along the way, he encountered the term “miners’ death” (Kumpeltod) – a phrase that means something very different from what it seems.

Eric Recknagel is studying Management and Law at the University of Greifswald, where he is also active in the student theatre group. The podcast was produced in 2025.