Erika Schirmer turns 100, her 'Kleine weiße Friedenstaube' peace song celebrated across Germany

Erika Schirmer, the author of the former East German children’s song “Kleine weiße Friedenstaube,” marked her 100th birthday on 31 July 2026 in a senior residence on the edge of the Harz. The song, which calls for “never war again,” remains a staple in kindergartens, schools and cultural memory throughout Germany and beyond.

In Oelsnitz, bookseller Kathrin Jakob, a longtime friend of Schirmer, organized a collection of peace greetings, letters, cards and small packages for the centenarian. The community response was strong, with contributions arriving from nearby towns such as Stralsund. Jakob will travel to Thüringen in August to present the amassed messages at a special exhibition in the Goethe‑Palais in Weimar, where she will also deliver a laudation.

Schirmer, who fled Silesia in 1945 and later settled in North Thuringia, continues to be active in the arts, maintaining a piano, writing poetry, and preparing further exhibitions. She received the Federal Cross of Merit in 2016 for her lifelong dedication to peace, humanity and values education.