In October 1989, Ahrenshoop fashion designer Ingrid Mittelstrass collects signatures for the banned citizens' movement New Forum and founds a local group. She takes part in the demonstrations and exposes the Stasi guest houses in the Baltic resort to demand their return to the community - which is successful.
She becomes co-founder of the Förderkreis Ahrenshoop e.V., where citizens want to take village development into their own hands.