Jakob Springfeld was born in 2002 and, with „Among Nazis“ and „The West has no idea what is happening in the East“, two debate books that are circulating in boardrooms and classrooms alike.

His more than 250 readings, often under police protection, show how serious he is about democracy and the future of the economy in the East.

As the founder of the first Fridays for Future group in Zwickau he broke the inertia of the Auto-City in 2018. He later co-hosted the rbb podcast „Local control drive“, in which he discusses industrial jobs, village discos and democracy with young East Germans. 

In 2025, he was on the SPIEGEL's list of „100 hopefuls“.
The Allianz Foundation named him „Mover of Tomorrow“ in 2024.
In 2023 he was awarded the Urania Courage Prize.
The Theodor Heuss Medal was awarded in 2020. 

„We will not be able to defend democracy by maintaining the status quo.“ 

Discuss opportunities and courage in East Germany with Jakob.