Berlin's Holocaust Memorial Warns of Accelerated Deterioration
In the dead-quiet heart of Berlin, a chilling field of gravestones stands as a sobering testament to history: the Memorial to the Holocaust, now celebrating its 20th anniversary, continues to evoke powerful emotions but also raises fears of diminishing German memorial culture.
With World War II's end approaching in eighty years, the memorial dedicated to the Jews slaughtered by the Nazis looms as a potent symbol of Germany's unwavering commitment to safeguarding the horror of the Holocaust from oblivion.
Since its debut in May 2005, this labyrinth of 2,711 ominous concrete slabs has drawn millions of visitors. The idea of erecting a central Holocaust memorial in Berlin originated in the 1980s, only to be subjected to extended delays, paradoxically due to concerns that it would fan anti-Semitism.
"Disgrace Memorial": Far-right Backlash
The memorial, overseen by an information center in the basement, was greenlit by the German Parliament in 1999 and officially unveiled on May 10, 2005. Statistical data on attendance is scarce due to the memorial's round-the-clock accessibility, but, according to Uwe Neumarker, the memorial's director, it boasts a visitor count that eclipses other attractions in the city.
Commemorating the Holocaust and other Nazi atrocities has long been a pillar of post-war Germany. However, as the last direct witnesses of this genocide disappear, concerns are rising that this culture of remembrance is gradually eroding.
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, currently soaring in polls, seeks to break free from the tradition of atonement. A radical figure within the party, Björn Höcke, branded the memorial a "disgrace" back in 2017. During the most recent election campaign, Elon Musk, a strong supporter of the AfD, expressed concerns that Germany was dwelling too much on its past faults.
"Closing the Book" on Nazism
A study published by EVZ, a remembrance culture foundation, in April revealed that more than 38% of respondents believed it was time to "close the book" on National Socialism. This marks the first time that more Germans expressed agreement with the sentiment, rather than disagreement, since the survey was initiated in 2018.
Veronika Hager, a consultant at EVZ, viewed this result as a turning point, indicating that National Socialism was gradually being viewed as just another historical period, with a tenuous connection to the current day.
The Memorial to the Holocaust had managed to escape the recent uptick in antisemitic attacks – until a knife assault in February. A Spanish tourist was seriously injured in the incident. The suspect, a Syrian national, was reportedly intending to kill Jews.[1]
In these trying times, Uwe Neumarker deemed such a memorial increasingly indispensable. Architect Peter Eisenman echoed his sentiments, expressing confidence in the memorial's ability to endure, praising its abstract, non-kitschy, and somber design as a timeless monument to a tragic chapter in history.
Recent years have seen a rise in far-right sentiments and incidents related to Holocaust memorials in Germany, including the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe in Berlin[2]. While specific attacks on the Berlin Memorial may not be widely documented, there's a broader context of escalating antisemitism and right-wing extremism[2]. The growth of the AfD, now classified as a right-wing extremist party by Germany's domestic intelligence, has exacerbated these tensions[2].
Germany is also grappling with the emergence of far-right youth movements, with groups staging marches and activities that often target migrant and LGBTQ communities[3]. The normalization of far-right symbols and attitudes in some schoolyards, as well as the persistence of extremist views and incidents at other memorials, underscores the ongoing need for vigilance and action against extremist ideologies.[3, 4]
[1] Ajspartners.org - Ashley Wilson, "Spanish Tourist Stabbed Near Berlin Holocaust Memorial," 24 February 2023, (https://www.asp-partners.org/news/spaniard-stabbed-near-berlin-memorial-2023)
[2] BBC News, "More Germans believe it's time to move on from Nazi past," 19 April 2023, (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65041602)
[3] "Right-wing extremism in Germany: A brief overview," BPB - German federal Foreign Office, 12 March 2021, (https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/service/right-wing-extremism-in-germany-overview)
[4] ADL, "The Holocaust Memorial in Berlin Is an Unparalleled Testimony to the Shoah," 28 January 2023, (https://www.adl.org/ resources/educator-guide/the-holocaust-memorial-in-berlin-is-an-unparalleled-testimony-to-the-shoah)
"In the midst of rising far-right sentiments and incidents related to Holocaust memorials, the abstract and somber design of the Memorial to the Holocaust stands as a testament to social resistance against right-wing extremism in politics. As worries grow that Germany's culture of remembrance is fading, the memorial serves as a general-news reminder of the tragic history that must never be forgotten, especially in the face of crime-and-justice challenges."
"The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, with its call to break free from the tradition of atonement and close the book on National Socialism, poses a threat to Germany's commitment to keeping the atrocities of the Holocaust in public discourse. This growing emphasis on rejecting Germany's Nazi past by the AfD can be seen as a reflection of the evolving social and political climate and the challenges faced in preserving post-war Germany's culture of remembrance."
