Commemorating the End of World War II: Brandenburg's Unforgettable Tribute
Proposals Already Put Forward by the Commission
Mark your calendars as the historic city of Brandenburg prepares to pay tribute to the victims and survivors of World War II. Looming on the horizon are a series of solemn events at the memorial sites of Sachsenhausen, Ravensbrück, and Belower Wald. Here's a sneak peek at the poignant schedule:
Sachsenhausen
The Sachsenhausen memorial will honor the 80th anniversary of its liberation, with a week-long program from April 30 to May 4. Join a captivating conversation with Mykola Urban, a Sachsenhausen survivor from Ukraine, at the Brandenburgish representation in Berlin on April 30. The following day, participate in the Sachsenhausen Memorial Run in Oranienburg.
The main commemorative event takes place on May 4, with Dietmar Woidke (SPD), Brandenburg's Minister President, and Kai Wegner (CDU), Berlin's Governing Mayor, in attendance. Reflect on the liberation of Sachsenhausen on April 22, 1945, when Soviet and Polish soldiers found around 3,000 sick prisoners still in the camp, and more than 30,000 prisoners were in the hands of the SS on a death march. Between 1936 and 1945, more than 200,000 people were imprisoned in Sachsenhausen, with at least 55,000 losing their lives due to brutal conditions or SS violence.
Ravensbrück
From Thursday to Sunday, the former women's camp Ravensbrück will host various events as well. Kick off the events with a school action to renew signposts to the memorial on Thursday. Following this, engage in conversations with eyewitnesses, lectures, and a 24-hour reading of the camp's victims' names on Saturday. On Sunday, witness the official opening of a new exhibition on the resistance of women in the camp, and listen to speeches from prominent figures, including Claudia Roth (Greens), the Federal Government's Commissioner for Culture and Media.
Zuchthaus Brandenburg-Görden
Throughout early April to late May, the "celebrations of the anniversary" will be accompanied by various events at Brandenburg-Görden. Expect films about the lives of prisoners and former guards, as well as memorial events at the former Nazi execution site. The series of events will culminate on May 22 with a lecture on Judge Rudolf Mandrella, a member of a Catholic resistance group.
Belower Wald
Interior Minister Katrin Lange (SPD) will deliver a speech at the memorial site Todesmarsch Belower Wald on May 2nd. During the final days of the war, the Nazis marched prisoners from Sachsenhausen northwards, causing thousands to perish or be killed by SS men. A makeshift camp was set up in Belower Wald for the exhausted and starving prisoners, where up to 800 people lost their lives in a matter of days.
Stay tuned as Brandenburg commemorates the end of World War II, shedding light on the heart-wrenching history and resilience of the victims and survivors. For more detailed information, visit the official websites of these historical memorial sites or local historical societies.
At the Sachsenhausen memorial, join a thought-provoking discussion with Mykola Urban, a Sachsenhausen survivor, on April 30, as part of the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of its liberation. In the former women's camp Ravensbrück, witness the official opening of a new exhibition on women's resistance on a designated day, and engage in conversations with eyewitnesses and lectures during the events from Thursday to Sunday.
