Roaring towards the heavens, the Lion of Judah atop the Löwenbrunnen Children’s Memorial seems to cry out. This powerful image commemorates a tragic history. It serves as a constant reminder of Cologne’s lost children.
The Löwenbrunnen Children’s Memorial stands on Erich-Klibansky-Platz. This square was once the schoolyard of the Jawne. The Jawne was a Jewish grammar school. More than 1,100 Jewish children and young people were deported and murdered from Cologne during National Socialism. This memorial honors their memory.
In the 1980s, Dieter and Irene Corbach researched the history of the Jawne. They wanted to create a place of remembrance. In 1990, they successfully named the former schoolyard Erich-Klibansky-Platz. Their aim was to transform the fountain into a memorial.
They contacted Hermann Gurfinkel, a former Jawne student who had escaped to the United States. Gurfinkel was an artist and sculptor. He suggested placing the Lion of Judah on the fountain column. The Lion of Judah symbolizes strength and resilience.
The creation of the Löwenbrunnen Children’s Memorial was not easy. Gurfinkel suffered a stroke. He could initially only work with his left hand. After the Lion was finished and sent to a bronze foundry, it was destroyed during transportation. Gurfinkel rebuilt the lion. He unveiled it in September 1997 on the site of his former school.
The Löwenbrunnen Children’s Memorial includes eight bronze plaques. These plaques list the names of over 1,100 deported and murdered children and young people from Cologne. Dieter Corbach researched these names. He died before the memorial was completed. Irene Corbach successfully completed the Löwenbrunnen Children’s Memorial. She passed away in 2005.
The Löwenbrunnen Children’s Memorial is more than just a fountain. It is a place of memory and information. Regular commemorative events are held here. Schools, children, and young people participate in these events. They remember the victims of the Holocaust. The Lion of Judah stands as a symbol of hope. It reminds us to love our neighbor.
The artist Hermann Gurfinkel described the Lion’s cry as a plea for help. Even the strongest need help. The lion guards the Ten Commandments. This resonates deeply in this place. The Löwenbrunnen Children’s Memorial is a place of reflection. It urges us to remember the past. It encourages us to build a better future. It serves as a reminder of the importance of tolerance. It highlights the necessity of understanding.