Memorial events on National Socialism: insight and memory

Memorial events on National Socialism: insight and memory

On Sunday, January 26th, there are numerous events in the Trier region to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust. The central event will be a public leadership in the SS special camp/concentration camp Memorial, which is scheduled for 1 p.m. This leadership, which is organized by the Förderverein and the State Center for Political Education in Rhineland-Palatinate, offers insights into the history of the camp, which was set up from October 1939 as a "police officer" for allegedly criminal westwall workers. The duration of the tour is about 1.5 hours. A reading by the author Alfons Ludwig Ims, who reads from his book "The Aocial Palatinate Family" at 3 p.m., will round off the framework of the event. In this book he addresses the history of his family stigmatized by the National Socialists. After the reading, the visitors are invited to talk to coffee, cold drinks and a small snack. Admission to both events is free.

The memorial in Hinzert is not only a place of remembering, but also an educational institution. From 1939 to 1945, the camp originally served as a passage station for prisoners from western and southern Europe, which were then deported to other concentration camps. Many prisoners did not survive the cruel conditions that prevailed in Hinzert and the side camps. The survivors were exempt from US troops at the end of March 1945. Information steles are installed at the location and since 2005 there has been a documentation and meeting house with a constant exhibition on the history of the warehouse to preserve this dark story.

accompanying events to commemorate

In addition to the activities in the memorial, there is a tour of the former Gau Mustorf in the city of Hermeskeil, which begins at 11 a.m. The meeting point is the town hall forecourt. Various stumbling blocks are offered in Saarburg on the same day. The first round takes place at 1.30 p.m. in Beurig, followed by a second tour at 3 p.m. in Saarburg itself. The meeting points for these tours are the social center of the German Red Cross and the town hall of the city of Saarburg. Participation in these guided tours is free of charge, but is requested for prior registration.

On Monday, January 27th, there will be a commemoration in the cultural center of the Konz community at 5 p.m., which offers lectures and an exhibition on the topic of Holocaust. For the same day, a joint commemoration of the Sinti and Roma Rhineland-Palatinate and the Jewish cultural community of Trier in the Electoral Palais Trier is planned for the same day. This event will remind of the approximately six million Jews and 500,000 Sinti and Roma who have suffered from the National Socialist regime.

opening times of the memorial

The SS special camp/concentration camp is open for interested parties at the following times:

For more information, the memorial can be contacted at +49 (0) 6586 992493 or by email to info@gägstaette-hinzert-rlp.de . The events on January 26th and 27th offer an important opportunity to deal with this dark time and honor the memories of the victims.

[Wochenspiegel] reports that the memorial is also suitable for pupils and school classes who are interested in political education and dealing with history. These offers are part of a comprehensive commitment to memory work on the horrors of National Socialism.

[bpb.de] emphasizes that the memorial in Hinzert is one of many places that are reminiscent of the National Socialist crimes and promote education about the events mentioned. The commitment to memory is not only local, but also has national importance. The Holocaust is a reminder for current and future society.