On 21 and 22 January 2023, relatives of people persecuted by the Nazis as »asocials« and »career criminals« attended a meeting in Nuremberg. This was a historic gathering: those present founded an Association to Remember the Disavowed Victims of National Socialism.
When my colleague and I arrived at the meeting room in Nuremberg on Saturday we saw 36 chairs arranged in a large circle. The people who came to the meeting could not be more different: Some were accompanied by relatives, but most were by themselves. They were from various occupational backgrounds and had travelled from all parts of Germany and Austria. There was an age gap of more than 50 years between the oldest and youngest participants. The attendees had just one thing in common: a family member had been persecuted by the Nazis for »asocial« or »criminal« behaviour.
During the two days in Nuremberg, participants exchanged emotional family stories. It soon became clear that the persecution and the subsequent disavowal of those affected still occupy and distress the attendees to this day, regardless of their differences. Some spoke about their family history for the first time. On the second day of the meeting, the attendees turned to practical matters. They founded an association which aims to provide a secure environment for relatives of victims to keep in touch, and secondly to establish an active public presence. Frank Nonnenmacher was appointed chairman and Ines Eichmüller his deputy.
The association aims among other things to contribute to historical and political education and to work towards the implementation of the Bundestag resolution of February 13, 2020. There is still work to be done concerning the resolution. Along with developing the touring exhibition, which includes this website, the Bundestag also resolved to promote research into the biographies of the persecuted and into the institutions that participated in Nazi persecution.
You can find more information here.
Merle Stöver