Events to commemorate the victims of the pogrom night
The victims of the National Socialist pogrom night of November 9, 1938 will be remembered in Saxony-Anhalt on Thursday with the laying of stumbling blocks, memorial hours and wreath-laying ceremonies. In Magdeburg, where a new synagogue is to be inaugurated in a few weeks' time, the commemoration will begin (5.00 pm) in the Forum Gestaltung. From there, there will be a silent memorial walk to the memorial of the destroyed synagogue in Julius-Bremer-Straße, followed by a wreath-laying ceremony.
Prior to this, the 39th Stolperstein laying ceremony in the state capital is planned for the afternoon (2 p.m.). The cubes set into the ground in front of the former homes commemorate deported and murdered Magdeburg residents - in this case the Schlein family. Pupils from the "Dr. Otto Schlein" vocational school researched the fate of the family, as the city announced.
Commemorative events are held in numerous places in Saxony-Anhalt. For example in Dessau-Roßlau and Halle, in Bernburg, Köthen and Zerbst. In Salzwedel, there will be a service at the Jewish cemetery (6 p.m.) followed by a tour of the stumbling blocks.
The commemoration of the pogrom night 85 years ago is overshadowed by an increased security situation in connection with the war between Israel and the Islamist Hamas. "The dynamic development of the current situation is forcing the security authorities at all levels to be more vigilant", explained the Ministry of the Interior on request. "The existing high level of measures to protect Jewish life in Saxony-Anhalt will be maintained unchanged and further adapted in line with the development of the situation."
The police authorities in Halle, Magdeburg and Dessau-Roßlau are in close contact with the Jewish communities. In assessing the threat situation, the police inspectorates are supported by the State Criminal Police Office, which is in constant contact with the Federal Criminal Police Office.
In the context of these commemoration events, the history of municipalities impacted by National Socialism is significantly highlighted. The city of Magdeburg, for instance, has a rich history of Jewish presence, which was tragically affected during that period.
Furthermore, these commemorative activities serve as a reminder for future generations to learn from the past, ensuring that such atrocities never repeat themselves in municipalities around the nation.
Source: www.dpa.com
