Ein aufwühlender Hilferuf

Am heutigen Tag erreicht mich die Mitteilung einer Presse-Erklärung. Unterzeichnet von 32 Organisationen, aus Belgien, Deutschland, Frankreich, Italien, Niederlande, Polen, Österreich und Tschechien. Er kann nicht anders als ein verzweifelter Hilfeschrei verstanden werden! Und dafür muss es Gründe geben, welche bei genauem Nachdenken darüber, erschrecken und zutiefst verunsichern!

Ich bin Nachfahre von zwei Holocaust-Überlebenden. Ich fühle mich verantwortlich und verpflichtet, diesem Hilferuf Gehör und Beachtung zu verschaffen. Aus diesem Grunde bitte ich meine Leserschaft, diesen Beitrag in ihrem gesamten familiären Umfeld und unter ihren Bekannten weiter zu verteilen. Wir sind es den sechs Millionen schuldig und wir sind – aus purem Selbstinteresse – dazu verpflichtet! Wehret den Anfängen – solange noch Zeit ist!

EUROPEAN MEMORIAL SITES: CORE DECLARATION

European Memorial Sites established on the grounds of places connected to the crimes perpetrated by the Nazis, Fascists, and their accomplices during World War II constitute a visible legacy of the history that shaped the foundation of post-war Europe.

As our societies undergo significant change, and as the generation of Survivors and direct witnesses gradually disappears, Memorial Sites carry a continuing responsibility: to raise awareness of the past, actively encourage reflection in our contemporary society, and signal and resist dehumanization, racism, antisemitism, and xenophobia wherever they arise.

In fulfilling this responsibility, Memorial Sites occupy a distinct position. Basing on rigorous research and historical evidence, they are detached from private interests, independent, and have a critical voice, including in relation to political developments and all forms of hate speech. This requires that Memorial Sites remain places for difficult questions and that they can offer warnings when this is called for.

This task can only be sustained where Memorial Sites are guaranteed programmatic independence from political authority: local, regional, national, or European. Their intellectual and practical autonomy should not be subject to political or budgetary pressure.

As custodians of a history that affected the whole of Europe, their independence is not solely an internal matter for their respective governing bodies, but a shared interest of Europe as such. 

To confront the growing challenges for democracy and peace, we call on all parties involved in public dialogue to respect this principle of autonomy.

Die UInterzeichner im Einzelnen:

Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum, Poland
National Historical and Memorial Reserve Babyn Yar, Ukraine
Death March Memorial in Below Forest, Germany
Bergen-Belsen Memorial, Germany
Memorial to the Victims of the Euthanasia Murders Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany
Brandenburg-Görden Prison Memorial, Germany
Buchenwald Memorial, Germany
Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial, Germany
Flossenbürg Concentration Camp Memorial, Germany
Museum of the Martyrdom of the Citizens of Wielkopolska Fort VII, Poland
Fossoli Foundation, Italy
Gross-Rosen Museum in Rogoźnica, Poland
Memorial Site Hartheim Castle, Austria
Hodonín u Kunštátu. Memorial to the Holocaust of the Roma and Sinti in Moravia, Czech Republic
Memorial and Museum Jamlitz in Lieberose, Germany
Kazerne Dossin, Belgium
Museum of the Former German Extermination Camp Kulmhof in Chełmno nad Ner, Poland
Memorial Leistikowstraße Potsdam, Germany
Lety u Písku. The Memorial to the Holocaust of the Roma and Sinti in Bohemia, Czech Republic
Maison d’Izieu, France
Mittelbau-Dora Memorial, Germany
Neuengamme Concentration Camp Memorial, Germany
KL Plaszow Memorial Museum in Kraków, Poland
Memorial Museum Ravensbrück, Germany
Internment and Deportation Memorial – Royallieu Camp, France
Memorial and Museum Sachsenhausen, Germany
Stutthof Memorial in Sztutowo, Poland
Camp Vught National Memorial, Netherlands
House of the Wannsee Conference Memorial and Educational Site, Germany
Memorial Center Camp Westerbork, Netherlands
Wolfenbüttel Prison Memorial, Germany
Martyrs‘ Museum in Żabikowo, Poland

Dieser Beitrag wurde aktualisiert durch Thomas Morvay, vor 4 Wochen ago