Kristallnacht - Night of the Broken Glass

• Kitchenshrink's Profile
• About this blog
• Entry from Bad Windsheim

Trip Start Oct 16, 2007 Previous
Entry Trip End Dec 16, 2007 Next
Entry

  Bad Windsheim, Germany
Thursday, November 27, 2008

The weekend of November 9th the town of Bad Windsheim Germany welcomed Jews from around the world to the former home town of their parents, grandparents and forefathers to commemorate the the 70th anniversary of Kristallnacht - the night that has been recognized as the prelude to the Holocaust. That night 70 years ago the Nazi's began the systemic eradication of a people who could trace their ancestry in Germany to ancient Rome. Jewish businesses, hospitals cemeteries, and schools were ransacked and destroyed. Synagogues were burned and many Jews were killed. The morning after they began to round up thousands of Jews and to deport them to concentration camps.

I would like to share with you, as the Jews who returned that weekend shared with me, the commemoration of a sad historic date by the city of Bad Windsheim. The following is part the speech delivered by the Mayor, Ralf Ledertheil:

"Today we are joined to commemorate a sad historic date that lies 70 years in the past

The Ceremony in the Square

. It was a terrible day, a grievous day for you and for your relatives and a shameful day for the city of Windsheim.

Long before 9 November 1938 Jewish citizens were discriminated against throughout the Reich and in Wnidsheim as well. These discriminations and harassments culminated in the horrors of the interim climax of the Reichspogromnacht on 9 November 1938. This night became a nightmare for our Jewish citizens. This night was the first step on a path to the merciless murder of Jewish citizens all over Europe - the Holocaust.

70 years ago there was a Jewish synagogue right here at the Hafenmarkt. It was agreed that it would be too dangerous for the neighboring buildings to set the synagogue on fire. Therefore, gasoline was spilled and a blasting cap was ignited, resulting in a loud blast. The fire was then immediately confined.

Commemorating 9 November 1939 means remembering the darkest chapter of German history, bringing to mind a disruption of civilization hardly conceivable nowadays.

With deep sorrow, horror and shame we look back at the crime against the Jewish citizens of Windsheim and against humanity.

To deal with our history is arduous and more than painful- yet it is necessary.

Retrospection shows us what racial hatred leads to

In the Square

.

Retrospection shows us how important values like freedom, tolerance, democracy and human rights are....

Again the question is raised, as to what are the roots of such a mind-set and even more importantly what can be done against it?

We have to defend the values of humanity time and again which sometimes is cumbersome. But freedom and democracy are based on the moral courage of all citizens to stand up to their beliefs. And this is infinitely easier today than it was 70 years ago. In those times standing up to one's belief inevitably resulted in maltreatment, torture or imprisonment.

We may consider it a great encouragement that once again Germans with Jewish belief call themselves citizens of our country.

We take the fact that you have come here to speak to us as a sign that a lot has changed during those past decades.

Getting ready

The younger generation does not bear responsibility for the past. However, we all will be held responsible if we do not actively fight against oblivion of these historic facts.

As former Federal President Herzog put it:
'Remembrance must not end, it must continue to remind future generations of the need to be vigilant. What we need now is a form of remembrance which will work in the future. it must express sorrow over suffering and loss, but it must also encourage constant vigilance in struggle against any reoccurrence, and it must avert future danger.'

It is good that this remembrance in the Federal Republic of Germany has constantly been intensified since 1945. In order to prevent that the evil events of the year 1938 will ever be forgotten, the citizens of Bad Windsheim have donated this stone to commemorate Windsheim's former Jewish citizens, and I am grateful for this as it expresses the commitment to never, anywhere, at any time, let it happen again.

As Mayor of Bad Windsheim I promise to do everything in my power to ensure that remembrance of the events of 9 November 1938 will be kept alive in Bad Windsheim

The Unveiling

.

Thank you and Shalom."

To pass a place at a moment of historical significance is a gift. To share that moment with people of character, intellect and heart is an event never to be forgotten.

I look forward to seeing you again.

Tschuss my friends.



A big thank you to Randy for his contribution to the album pictures.

Post your own travel photos for friends and family More Pictures

The Church	Three floors up	The gallery	After
Roger and Anthony	Ruth and Anthony	Roger and Anthony	A Lighter Moment
Roger	Siblings	Susan	Anthony
Phyllis and Otto Waldmann	The Group	Erected	The Square

Slideshow Print this entry Share Bad Windsheim hotels

Previous Entry Next Entry