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Commemoration of Nazi victims: Berlin remembers the murders of the sick during the T4 campaign
On November 26th, 2025, Berlin will remember the victims of the Nazi murders in the Tiergarten. Jürgen Dusel and artists organize the event.
Commemoration of Nazi victims: Berlin remembers the murders of the sick during the T4 campaign
On Friday, November 26, 2025, a memorial event will take place in Berlin to commemorate the Nazi murders of the sick. The memorial and information center for the victims of the “euthanasia” murders is located on Tiergartenstrasse, next to the Philharmonic Hall. This memorial was inaugurated eleven years ago and represents a central place of remembrance for the over 70,000 people who were murdered during the Nazi era due to disabilities or mental illnesses. The murders were carried out by doctors and nurses and are also known as “Aktion T4”, named after the address of the T4 central office at Tiergartenstrasse 4.
Among the expected participants is the Federal Government's Commissioner for the Disabled, Jürgen Dusel, who will support the event with his presence. The musical design of the commemoration will be carried out by the blind songwriter and pianist Kevienella, who will enrich the program artistically. The “Gedenkort T4” support group organizes the event in collaboration with the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe Foundation.
The background to “Action T4”
“Aktion T4” was a systematic Nazi murder program that began in the first half of the 20th century and continued until the end of the war. Between 200,000 and 300,000 people were killed across Europe by these programs, while in Germany alone over 70,000 patients were murdered in sanatoriums and nursing homes. These crimes were referred to by the Nazis as “euthanasia” – a term that allowed the perpetrators to legitimize and conceal the cruel acts.
A reference to the inglorious history are the forced sterilizations that were introduced in Germany from January 1, 1934. Laws to prevent “hereditary disease offspring” led to an estimated 350,000 to 400,000 people being sterilized against their will in order to preserve the racial ideals propagated by the National Socialists. The victims were recruited from diverse, often stigmatized groups, including people with mental illnesses and disabilities.
Commemoration and public attention
Another day of remembrance for the victims of National Socialism will take place on January 29, 2025. On this day, a public wreath-laying ceremony will take place at 10:30 a.m. at the memorial and information center for the victims of the “euthanasia” murders. The ceremony is accompanied by blind author Bernd Kebelmann and musician Dietmar Gräf. This is part of a broader initiative to shed light on the still little-noticed crimes of National Socialism and to properly honor the victims.
The annual commemoration event after September 1st ensures that this dark history is not forgotten. As part of these efforts, a resolution by the German Bundestag is expected on January 30, 2025, which will recognize the victims of Nazi “euthanasia” and forced sterilizations as victims of the Nazi regime. The aim of this cross-party proposal is to promote research into these crimes and to provide support to the memorial sites.
Coming to terms with the past continues to be an urgent issue in Germany. The memorial event will not only serve as a reminder of the victims, but also as a memorial for society to prevent such atrocities from ever happening again.