Berlin Commemorates 88th Anniversary of the November Pogroms
Citizens gather at Schönhauser Allee cemetery to honor victims and condemn rising antisemitism.
1Solemn Remembrance in Berlin
On a cold Monday morning, Berliners gathered at the Jewish cemetery on Schönhauser Allee to commemorate the 88th anniversary of the November Pogroms. Participants laid wreaths before a metal Star of David, honoring the victims of the 1938 state-organized violence that devastated Jewish communities across the German Reich.
2Historical Context of 1938
The Reichspogromnacht, occurring between November 9 and 10, 1938, saw the destruction of over 7,000 Jewish businesses. Approximately 30,000 Jewish men were deported to concentration camps, including 12,000 from Berlin. Synagogues in districts like Charlottenburg and Mitte were set ablaze, marking a catastrophic escalation in the Nazi regime's systematic persecution.
3Modern Antisemitism Concerns
Fabian Bunschuh, head of the Pankow district assembly, addressed the gathering by highlighting the persistence of antisemitism in contemporary society. He emphasized that violence against Jewish people is rising again, noting that the powerlessness felt in combating this resurgence is particularly tragic for the descendants of the original perpetrators.
4The Fading Witness Legacy
Bunschuh warned that maintaining a robust culture of remembrance becomes increasingly difficult as time passes. With the loss of contemporary witnesses who experienced the era firsthand, the responsibility to educate new generations grows. The ceremony underscored the urgency of preventing historical memory from fading amidst competing modern political narratives.
5Warnings from the Past
Sigmount A. Königsberg, the antisemitism commissioner for Berlin’s Jewish community, invoked a quote by Erich Kästner. He reminded the audience that the 'snowball' of hatred in 1928 eventually became an unstoppable 'avalanche.' This historical reference served as a stark warning about the dangers of ignoring early signs of radicalization.
6Resistance and Historical Memory
Jutta Harnisch of the VVN recounted the story of graphic artist Peter Edel, who witnessed the funeral of Max Liebermann at the same cemetery under Gestapo harassment. This narrative highlighted the long-standing tradition of resistance against state-sponsored intimidation, illustrating that the struggle for dignity has deep roots in Berlin.
7The Ongoing Relevance
Concluding the ceremony, Harnisch cited Fritz Bauer, the prosecutor of the Auschwitz trials, stating that nothing belongs solely to the past. Everything is present and can become the future again. This sentiment encapsulated the event's core message: historical vigilance is a continuous, active requirement for a democratic society today.
8Legacy of the Ceremony
As the participants departed the freezing cemetery, the colorful wreaths remained as silent, enduring symbols of warning. The event served not only as a memorial for those lost in 1938 but as a public call to action against the current climate of intolerance and the normalization of extremist rhetoric.
Original article: taz — Berlin Commemorates 88th Anniversary of the November Pogroms