Erfurt mourns: Mayor Anke Hofmann-Domke dies unexpectedly

Erfurt mourns: Mayor Anke Hofmann-Domke dies unexpectedly

The city of Erfurt mourns Anke Hofmann-Domke, who died on Friday evening, just two days after her 63rd birthday. As head of the social affairs department and mayor, she leaves a truly painful gap in the politics of the Thuringian state capital. Mayor Andreas Horn (CDU) said in an official statement that her death was a great loss for the city and all its supporters. Hofmann-Domke, in office since 2019, was known for her colorful glasses and was appreciated across party lines. Their commitment to social issues, education, youth and health shaped the city and its people.

The Erfurt native was born in 1962 and leaves behind her husband, two sons and two grandchildren. Before she moved into the Erfurt town hall, she was an active politician, including as state manager of the Left Party in Thuringia. At the beginning of 2023 she was re-elected as councilor for social affairs, but was unable to attend the first meeting for health reasons. Her career was marked by numerous political positions, including working as a volunteer judge at the Gotha Social Court Day24 reported.

A warm farewell

The memory of Hofmann-Domke will remain alive particularly through her open nature and her tireless commitment to the citizens. Her diverse political contributions were highly valued in the city. “A painful loss,” was the unanimous opinion of the city council and citizens. The news of her death has deeply affected many and there will be a great need for a fitting farewell.

But it's not just the loss of Anke Hofmann-Domke that concerns Erfurt's citizens. Events in the world of sports and volunteer work are also on the agenda for the same weekend. The football club Rot-Weiß Erfurt recently won impressively against SV Grün-Weiß Siemerode 4-0 in the quarter-finals of the Thuringian State Cup. FC Carl Zeiss Jena and Bad Frankenhausen were also able to play successfully in their games.

Young people in the spotlight

There was also an award in Bad Berka, where three young people were recognized for their outstanding volunteer work. Tim Schmidt, Julia Vogt and Nicklas Hünniger were honored for their tireless work in their clubs and thus enriching the community. This award shows that the younger generation in Thuringia is also actively taking responsibility and giving valuable impetus through their actions.

However, the closure of the main station in Halle from Friday evening due to railway construction work will lead to a detour for travelers traveling to and from Thuringia. This work, which includes track changes and software upgrades, will last until Sunday evening. Travelers have to be prepared for changes in Leipzig or Magdeburg MDR reported.

Another relevant incident occurred in Sömmerda, where an 85-year-old woman was injured in a traffic accident. The cause was a 29-year-old driver ignoring the right of way, who is now being investigated for negligent bodily harm.

Finally, it should be mentioned that Finn Sonnekalb, a talented speed skater from Erfurt, set a German record over 1,000 meters at the World Cup in Salt Lake City and thus qualified for the 2026 Winter Olympics. This success is a ray of hope and a reminder that despite the sad loss, the city still has a lot of positive things to offer.