Commemoration in Bregenz: Stolpersteine ​​commemorate Nazi euthanasia victims

Commemoration in Bregenz: Stolpersteine ​​commemorate Nazi euthanasia victims

On Friday, November 8, 2024, a significant memorial ceremony took place in Bregenz, during which 28 “stumbling blocks” were unveiled. These special memorial stones commemorate the victims of the cruel National Socialist health and social policy, especially the victims of so-called euthanasia. The unveiling took place on Lower Rathausstrasse, a historic location that was closely linked to the Bregenz Health Department during National Socialism.

The stumbling blocks were created by artist Gunter Demnig, who developed the concept of these memorial stones. Each stone is a square concrete paver that supports a small brass plaque. These plaques are marked with the names, anniversaries of birth and death, and the places of death of the victims in order to keep their memory alive. The actions of the Nazi authorities in this region affected many people, including those with disabilities and those described as mentally ill.

The historical context

In the administrative building of the Vorarlberg Museum, which was once the health center, numerous people were persecuted and incapacitated. Many of those affected suffered serious consequences, including imprisonment in psychiatric hospitals and forced sterilization. The stumbling blocks are intended to keep the memory of this dark time alive and to make the fate of the many people affected visible.

The commemoration was accompanied by a supporting program designed to further raise public awareness. To open the program, a moderated discussion entitled “Bureaucracy without humanity. The Bregenz Health Department during the Nazi era” took place on the same evening in the Vorarlberg Museum. This event offered a deep insight into the role of the health department during National Socialism and the inhumane bureaucracy practiced there.

On Saturday, November 9, 2024, there was a tour entitled “Gestapo and Health Department – ​​Persecution in National Socialist Bregenz,” which dealt with the persecution policy in the region. These tours are part of a larger educational program to raise awareness of the human rights violations during National Socialism and to maintain the memory of those who were persecuted.

Another tour, “They Had to Die Because They Were Different,” will be offered on Friday, November 15, 2024. This event is explicitly dedicated to the fates of Herta Böckle, Karin Fleisch and Anna Hotz, three women who were victims of euthanasia. These revelations and tours help to address the dark history and the cruel acts of the past.

The stumbling blocks and the accompanying events are not only a reminder of the past, but also a call to defend the values ​​of humanity and tolerance. Such commemorations help preserve the lessons of history and ensure that the atrocities of the past are not repeated. For more details and information about these events, those interested can consult the websites for further information, among others on www.bregenz.gv.at.