40 years of Memorial Breitenau: Remind and learn in Guxhagen

40 years of Memorial Breitenau: Remind and learn in Guxhagen

appreciation of memory work in Hessen: 40 years of memorial Breitenau

The Breitenau memorial in Guxhagen will celebrate an important anniversary on September 7, 2024: its 40th anniversary. This facility has established itself as a central point of contact for memory work to the Nazi past in Hesse. At the historical location of a former concentration camp, not only history was preserved, but also created a space for education and reflection.

On this day, a rich public program is offered that focuses on the importance of historical-political education. From 3 p.m., visitors have the opportunity to find out about various initiatives and organizations on a market of possibilities that deal with the processing of the Nazi past. The participants include the memorials Hadamar and Trutzhain as well as the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) North Hesse and many more.

The roots of the memorial lie in a research project by the University of Kassel, which began in the late 1970s. Under the direction of professors such as Dietfrid Krause-Vilmar, research and documentation about the historical experiences of the survivors of the Breitenau institution were promoted. The discovery of files that showed the use of the site as an early concentration camp and later labor education camp laid the foundation for memorial work.

In 1982 the first hiking exhibition entitled "Remembering of Breitenau" took place, which created great response and aroused the interest of the public in the fates of the prisoners at the time. The work of the memorial was institutionally anchored in the following years, and since 1984 it has been continued.

The anniversary is crowned with an official ceremony at 4 p.m., in which experts and contemporary witnesses will discuss the importance of the place and the development of memorial work. The event is moderated by historian Cornelia Siebeck, who brings together the various perspectives of those present.

The Breitenau memorial has set itself the task of keeping memory alive to the victims of National Socialism and sensitizing young generations by education for the importance of tolerance and memory. This work is not only important for the local community, but also has far -reaching implications for society as a whole. The presence and continuous exchange with scientific institutions such as the University of Kassel support this mission and enable a deeper examination of history.

Interested parties will find more information about the event and the topics dealt with the memorial, at www.gägstaette-breitenau.de .

Contact: Dr. Ann Katrin Düben, head of the Breitenau memorial, Brückenstraße 12, 34302 Guxhagen.