Pforzheim honors the removal of Jewish inhabitants
Seventy-five years ago, the lives of 6,500 Jewish citizens from Baden, the Palatinate, and the Saarland came to an abrupt end. Amidst the chaos of World War II, six million Jews in Europe met a similarly tragic fate. Tucked away in the history books are the individual stories behind these horrifying figures. On this day, those from Pforzheim met their end. Women, men, children, and the elderly were forced to cram their entire lives into a suitcase and board cattle wagons at the goods station in Pforzheim, bound for Gurs, France.
Today, a low-key memorial stands at the traffic roundabout of Güterstraße/Anshelmstraße, a testament to those who were deported. However, Rami Suliman, the chairman of the Jewish Community of Pforzheim, believes this memorial needs improvement. He has taken the initiative to expand the memorial and gather support, including Gerhard Baral. Baral queries, "How can it be that the initiative for the memorial comes from those who suffered the deportation?" He echoes the sentiment that every society has a responsibility to keep history alive. "Peace is a gift, and we must work to keep it," he says, acknowledging the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and other parts of the world.
On Tuesday evening, the design for the proposed expansion by architect Peter W. Schmidt was presented to invited guests. The small space presents a challenge, with Tobias Schmidt from the office of Peter W. Schmidt explaining that a strip of land from the adjacent laundromat will be purchased, and the area will be paved to optically separate the memorial from the sidewalk. A six-meter-high stele made of dark, smooth exposed concrete will serve as the focal point, with names of the deportees engraved on two sides. An information board with a QR code will provide digital access to biographies.
The estimated cost for the project is 130,000 euros, with additional sponsors being sought. Kai Adam, the master of the Worthy Singers, has announced an appeal to his congregation, and Burkhardt Thost has spontaneously pledged a donation. The inauguration is set for the 85th anniversary of the deportation on October 22, 2025, with Landtag President Muhterem Aras already confirmed to attend.
Those who wish to support the project can make a donation to the "Memorial 22nd October 1940 Pforzheim" at the account of the Jewish Community Pforzheim.
As the city moves towards remembering and honoring the lives lost, further information regarding the expansion project will be released.
The initiative to expand the memorial for those who were deported during World War II comes from members within the affected community, such as Rami Suliman and Gerhard Baral. The proposed design by architect Peter W. Schmidt includes a six-meter-high stele with engraved names, an information board with QR code access to biographies, and a paved area to separate the memorial from the sidewalk, with sponsors still being sought for the 130,000 euro project.
