Didn’t Eckhard Rütz deserve to live? Here stands the Eckard Rütz Plaque. It marks a place of tragedy in Greifswald. We gather here to remember Eckard Rütz. This plaque serves as a stark reminder of a dark event. It happened in November 2000.
Eckard Rütz was a homeless man. He was murdered by three young neo-Nazis. They brutally beat him to death. Their motive was pure hate. They thought he was a burden to German taxpayers.
The Eckard Rütz Plaque is more than stone. It symbolizes a commitment to remembrance. The crime occurred in the night of November 25. The location was right in front of the old Mensa in Greifswald. The perpetrators were teenagers. They were 16 and 21 years old. They used tree support poles. They beat the 42-year-old Eckard Rütz. They continued until he no longer moved.
In court the accused stated their reason. They wanted to teach a lesson. They said someone like Rütz was a burden. He burdened the German taxpayer. The two 16-year-old perpetrators were sentenced. Each received seven and a half years. The 21-year-old received ten years in prison.
Before this another homeless man died. Klaus-Dieter Gerecke was killed five months earlier. Three youths tortured him for an hour. They demanded money and beer. These perpetrators were also linked to the right-wing scene. The court did not classify the murder as right-wing extremism. It was seen as a crime for money. One perpetrator got seven years. The other two received probation.
In 2006 the alliance “Schon vergessen?” was founded. It aimed to promote active remembrance. It holds an annual memorial for Eckard Rütz. This event reminds people of such deeds. It takes place on the forecourt of the Mensa am Schießwall.
More than a quarter of a million people are homeless in Germany. They face exclusion and violence. Over 580 homeless people died. They died in the last 30 years due to violence. This is according to the Federal Association for Homeless Assistance. The number may be higher. Many killings of homeless go unrecognized.
Klaus-Dieter Gerecke died on June 24 2000. He was 47. Rainer Gerecke died on April 1 2000. He was 49. Eckhard Rütz died on November 25 2000. He was 42. They were victims of right-wing attacks. These attacks were motivated by social Darwinism. Friends in Greifswald remember them vividly.
Eckhard Rütz and the Gerecke brothers faced stigma. They were devalued in the GDR. This was due to their lack of steady employment. In the 1990s they lost housing. They also lost casual work. They lived with relatives and friends. They stayed in demolition houses. They lived on public squares.
The brothers Klaus-Dieter and Rainer Gerecke grew up in the Brinkhof. It was a settlement for poor families. This complex was stigmatized. Children faced prejudice. Their chances for social advancement were limited.
Klaus-Dieter Gerecke was arrested in 1973. It was for “endangering public order”. He was sentenced to forced labor. The goal was to instill a sense of duty. The DDR regime wanted to enforce work and order.
Eckhard Rütz’s story is a lesson. We must fight intolerance. We must remember the victims of hate. The Eckard Rütz Plaque stands. It stands as a call to action. It urges us to create a more just world. A world free from hatred and violence. Let us honor Eckard Rütz. Let us work for a better future.