Listen closely. The Haus des Gedenkens stands here as a solemn reminder of immense suffering. It commemorates the victims of the Neuengamme concentration camp. This is more than just a building. It is a place of remembrance and reflection.
In 1981, this building started as a documentation center. It was the first exhibition building of the Neuengamme memorial site. In 1995, it was transformed into the Haus des Gedenkens. The transformation marked the 50th anniversary of the camp’s liberation.
The Düsseldorf artist Thomas Schütte collaborated with Hamburg architect Gerhard Scharf. Together, they redesigned the existing structure. The interior walls expose the raw concrete. Some sections are subtly stained with red paint. This creates a somber atmosphere.
Look around. You will notice long fabric panels hanging from the walls. Almost 25,000 names are printed on them. These are the names of those who died in Neuengamme and its satellite camps. The names are listed chronologically by date of death. The columns of names grow longer as the war neared its end.
Consider this: 953 people died in the first year after liberation. They succumbed to the effects of their imprisonment. They too are victims of the Neuengamme concentration camp.
Notice the empty rolls of fabric. They represent thousands of victims. Their names remain unknown forever. In a side room, you can see facsimiles of the original death registers. These registers were kept in the camp’s infirmary. They serve as crucial historical documents.
You can delve deeper into the victims’ stories. A memorial book with multiple volumes provides detailed information. This information is also available on a computer terminal.
In the main hall, two models of the former camp grounds stand side by side. One model depicts the camp’s condition in 1948. At that time, the former concentration camp was handed over to Hamburg prison authorities. After the war, the British used the camp as an internment camp until 1948. The other model shows the grounds as they appeared in 1995. This was when the Haus des Gedenkens was established. These models show the changes to the former camp over five decades.
Take a moment to reflect. The Haus des Gedenkens is a powerful testament. It honors those who suffered and died here. It urges us to remember. It reminds us to prevent such atrocities from ever happening again.