Memory and grief: Christmas market at Breitscheidplatz intended to sacrifice

Memory and grief: Christmas market at Breitscheidplatz intended to sacrifice

On December 19, 2016, a terrorist terrorist attack took place on the Christmas market at Breitscheidplatz in Berlin, which has changed the lives of many people since then. Every year at this time, survivors and relatives of the victims come together to commemorate the terrible events. As the Berliner Zeitung , the mulled wine seller, which during the attack, recalls on site eight years ago Was, on this day as if everyone would come to life again. "It's like a film, it comes up every year," she explains, while the market remains festively illuminated in the background.

The trauma is also noticeable for other survivors. Agnes Guba, who also almost killed, still suffers from the psychological consequences of the attack. "Every picture," she says, "cause the memory." Accompanying Egbert Schmidt raises serious allegations against the authorities and expresses his anger about the slow processing of his applications for support. For years he has been waiting for adequate treatment for his trauma, which were caused by the action, which he refers to as "failure to help". These voices halls by the commemorative event, which is accompanied by emergency pastors. Justus Münster, who was on site at the time, reports on the lasting pictures of the tragedy and the emotional support that he and his colleagues can offer to the victims, such as the SPIEGEL

a place of commemoration and mourning

at the scene, where many wreaths and lights are laid down for the victims, the atmosphere of grief and memory is dominated. But not everyone is aware of the tragedy; Some sellers share their observations that many Christmas market visitors, apparently distracted by the festive activities, talk little about the attack. The variety of international visitors is also highlighted, while Germans are apparently less likely to be present. In the meantime, speakers are preparing for the memorial event, which clarifies the contrast between the survivors and the representatives of society, who often cannot identify with the memories of the survivors. It remains to be hoped that the voices of the survivors hear and that the memories are not forgotten.