Memorial for the victims of National Socialism in Koblenz

The memorial for the victims of National Socialism in Koblenz

The memorial for the victims of National Socialism in Koblenz , or memorial Koblenz for short , is intended to commemorate the victims of National Socialism in the city between 1933 and 1945. At the same time, it should also symbolize a sign of confidence pointing into the future.

history

The memorial Koblenz was on August 23, 2001 in presence of the then Lord Mayor Eberhard Schulte-Wissermann , the chairman of the "Regional Association of the memorials and remembrance initiatives Nazi era in Rheinland-Pfalz" Dieter Burgard , the chairman of the development association "memorial to the victims of National Socialism in Koblenz eV “Karl-Heinz Grundmann and numerous guests of honor from public life. The memorial is located on Reichenspergerplatz across from the main building of the former Upper Presidium of the Rhine Province in Koblenz's old town .

The initiator was the Friends' Association, founded in summer 1996, which first spoke out in favor of erecting the monument in 1997 and which every year on January 27, the day of commemoration of the victims of National Socialism , keeps the memory alive with public exhibitions and actions. For example, the Förderverein supported the first laying of stumbling blocks in Koblenz on January 27, 2007. Since then, 100 of the stumbling blocks for persecuted people (plus a general stumbling block) have been installed in the streets of Koblenz in nine laying campaigns, most recently on November 13, 2014.

construction

The memorial for the victims of National Socialism in Koblenz was created by the Traben-Trarbacher sculptor Jürgen Waxweiler . It consists of two red sandstone block halves and four rusty steel cage angles. Each of the two cut halves has a size of 230 × 180 × 80 cm. On the cut surface of the first stone, facing the Upper Presidium of the Rhine Province, the text “Remembrance of the persecuted, battered, murdered 1933–1945” was carved. The second stone faces the park and shows the text of Articles 1 to 5 of the Basic Rights . Four steel cage angles are grouped around the two halves of the block in a disorderly manner. The rusty steel with its red-brown color contrasts with the red sandstone and the green color of the lawn. The symbolism of the memorial should stimulate the viewer to think about freedom and lack of freedom.