{"id":4880,"date":"2022-05-11T10:41:29","date_gmt":"2022-05-11T08:41:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gedenkstaette-vaihingen.de\/der-verein\/treffen-mit-ueberlebenden-2015\/"},"modified":"2023-03-30T14:43:33","modified_gmt":"2023-03-30T12:43:33","slug":"treffen-mit-ueberlebenden-2015","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/gedenkstaette-vaihingen.de\/en\/der-verein\/treffen-mit-ueberlebenden-2015\/","title":{"rendered":"Meeting with Survivors in 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Meeting on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the liberation <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In 2015 the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Vaihingen concentration camp and the end of the Second World War was probably the last opportunity to invite survivors of the camp as guests to Vaihingen. By way of preparation the addresses of 30 former inmates of the camp who were still alive were found.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The City of Vaihingen\/Enz represented by Mayor Gerd Maisch immediately agreed, together with the Memorial Foundation, to extend invitations to them and put together a programme for April 2015.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the event 8 survivors with their relatives as well as relatives whose father, grandfather or husband had previously died or had died in the camp came to Vaihingen between 9th<\/sup> and 12th<\/sup> April 2015. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Polish guests lay wreaths by the memorial stones with victims\u2019 names<\/p>\n <\/figure>\n

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Isaak Akerman describes his experiences to pupils<\/p>\n <\/figure>\n

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Chairman Bernd Freckmann with survivor Benjamin Zysman<\/p>\n <\/figure>\n

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Isaak Akerman and Jules Schelvis (\u2020) in the information room<\/p>\n <\/figure>\n

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During the exhibition in St. Peter\u2019s Church<\/p>\n <\/figure>\n \n <\/figure>\n\n <\/div>\n\n \n

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Participants from 8 countries<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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From Poland came Boleslaw Urbanski, Jerzy Wojciewski<\/strong> and Eugeniusz Dabrowski<\/strong>, all three of whom live in Warsaw as of 2015. Isaak Akerman<\/strong>, who was born in Danzig, and his wife Rachel came over from Haifa in Israel.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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94 year old Jules Schelvis<\/strong>, who as of 2015 lives in Amstelveen and who has been closely connected with the memorial for many years and has visited a number of times, came to Vaihingen to commemorate the anniversary. Together with their relatives, Manny Steinberg, Benjamin Zysman and Ted Weisbord<\/strong> flew in from the U.S.A. to visit the scene of their terrible suffering.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Isaak Akerman and Jules Schelvis in the information room<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\u00dcberlebende treffen Sch\u00fcler<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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Rund 1,5 Stunden standen die 8 \u00dcberlebenden am Freitag, dem 10. April<\/strong> den rund 70 Sch\u00fclern des Stromberg – und des Friedrich – Abel Gymnasiums Vaihingen\/Enz Rede und Antwort. Die motivierten und informierten Sch\u00fcler, die entweder in zwei Theaterprojekten sich mit der Thematik befassen oder f\u00fcr den Unterricht die wohl einmalige Gelegenheit einer etwas “anderen Geschichtsstunde” in den Ferien beim Schopfe packten, waren von den Ausf\u00fchrungen der ehemaligen H\u00e4ftlinge tief beeindruckt. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Vor allem davon, dass diese ihnen mit viel Herzlichkeit und vorbehaltlos entgegentraten, \u00fcberraschte sie ebenso wie die eigenen Familienangeh\u00f6rigen. Der \u00dcberlebende<\/strong> Benjamin Zysman<\/strong> danach gefragt, wie er es geschafft habe, zu \u00fcberleben, f\u00fchrte aus, dass ein Hauptgrund der war, das Unfassbare der Nachwelt weiterzuvermitteln.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Official greeting<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

The significance and warm atmosphere of the meeting, which falls back on a long tradition, became especially apparent on 11th April 2015 during the official welcome ceremony in the L\u00f6wensaal of the City Assembly Hall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In a very personal speech, survivor Isaak Akermann stressed how important the visit was for the survivors themselves and referred to the respect in which he holds both the long-lasting hospitality of the City of Vaihingen\/Enz and above all the dedication and work of the members of the memorial team.

In an emotional speech Ms. Wendelgard von Staden focussed on the fact that her generation had built up a different Germany, that soon there would be no more survivors and witnesses to tell their story first-hand and that therefore this meeting was unique and would probably be the last of its kind. She thanked the survivors for not having rejecting the efforts of the City and the Memorial Foundation at reconciliation and for having the courage to accept the invitation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>

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The commemoration ceremony<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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The real climax of the visit was, however, undoubtedly the memorial commemoration at the cemetery of honour of the former concentration camp which took place on Sunday, 12th<\/sup> April at 11<\/strong> a.m. Through attending this hour-long and dignified commemoration the 300 participants sent out a clear signal for tolerance and human dignity. They had come to remember the 1700 victims of Vaihingen concentration camp and the unimaginable suffering that the Nazis had subjected them to.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Chairman Bernd Freckmann with survivor Manny Steinberg<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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For the 8 survivors and their families present as well as the relatives of other former inmates who had travelled specially from Poland, the U.S.A. Norway and Germany this great response and the efforts of the Vaihingen\/Enz Memorial Foundation was an important confirmation that the events that took place at Vaihingen concentration camp and its victims would not be forgotten and that there would be no end to the historical treatment and investigation into the inconceivable deeds and actions of those days.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Survivor Boleslaw Urbanski<\/strong> from Warsaw called in his speech upon the living to show more harmony, understanding and solidarity. People should show respect for the dead and honour the memory of the events and the victims. Literally, he said, \u201cToday there is no reason to make accusations; it is not a question of revenge or apportioning blame for past deeds. The time has come for reconciliation. The most important thing is to tend truthful memory and the frank expression of what one experienced. (\u2026) Hatred leads nowhere; harmony and understanding are what really matter.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Boleslaw Urbanski (left) at the memorial commemoration<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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After this, the participants commemorated the victims in their different ways: through Christian prayer; the Jewish Kaddish was spoken by survivor Benjamin Zysman<\/strong> from the U.S.A.; while roses were placed in silent remembrance on the graves.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The many encounters and intensive conversations between City representatives, the City Council and the Vaihingen\/Enz Memorial Foundation on the one hand and the survivors and families on the other during meals and the various events deepened the relations and friendship and formed the basis for the frank and cordial atmosphere of the whole event. Mainly responsible for its success were the participation of Mayor Maisch and the excellent organisation by the Vaihingen\/Enz press officer, Ms. Fischer, and her team.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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