- Commemoration event for the memorial keepsake - Steinmeier honors the casualties of the Nazis' atrocities
President Frank-Walter Steinmeier encourages us to remember the atrocities of Nazi euthanasia and not to minimize them. "The lessons from the past should guide us towards vigilance now. No one has the authority to determine another person's life's worth," Steinmeier stated during a commemorative event marking the 10th anniversary of the memorial site for Nazi euthanasia victims in Berlin.
The memorial site located at Tiergartenstraße 4 has been standing for a decade. From 1940 onwards, it served as the planning and operational hub for "Aktion T4". Under this cover name, the Nazis planned the mass murder of patients from mental and nursing homes across the German Empire.
Steinmeier: Mixed feelings over monument installation
Steinmeier expressed regret at the delay in erecting the monument. "I can't help but feel a mix of joy as we celebrate the 10th anniversary today, but also shame that it's only been a decade," Steinmeier said.
Steinmeier condemned present-day attempts to whitewash the wrongs committed by National Socialism. There was a desire to annihilate in Germany that is unmatched. "There are individuals, there are political groups who deny, trivialise, or downplay these actions," said Steinmeier. "You see it, you hear it, and it's a source of profound shame." Steinmeier urged a firm stance against inhumanity and discrimination.
Also present at the commemoration ceremony were the Federal Government's Commissioner for Disability Affairs, Jürgen Dusel, and Berlin's ruling Mayor, Kai Wegner (CDU).
The atrocities of Nazi euthanasia, which involved the mass murder of vulnerable individuals, serve as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of unchecked crime. Steinmeier strongly condemns present-day attempts to downplay or trivialize these crimes, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging and combating inhumanity.
