Ever felt the weight of history pressing down on you? Right here at Alleestraße 10, this plaque commemorates Maimi von Mirbach. She was a remarkable woman. The Maimi von Mirbach Plaque serves as a reminder of her courageous actions during a dark period.
Maimi von Mirbach was born Maria Celina Gabrielle Antoinette Freiin von Mirbach in 1899. Her family moved to Potsdam in 1914. This was after they had to flee Belgium at the start of World War I. Maimi experienced being part of a minority. This shaped her into a person who helped those in need.
Even in the 1920s, Maimi recognized the rise of nationalism and anti-Semitism in Germany. After the Nazis seized power, she actively assisted persecuted Jews. She lived by the values of the Confessing Church. Maimi abhorred the Nazis’ racial ideology. As a cellist, she maintained contact with Jewish musicians. This was a dangerous act.
One notable act of bravery was Maimi’s help to Fritz Hirschfeld. He was the chairman of the Potsdam Labor Court. In 1938, she helped him escape. Hirschfeld was arrested after Kristallnacht. He was released on the condition that he leave the country. The authorities demanded a large sum of money for his release and departure. Maimi acquired Hirschfeld’s house to raise the money. She even gave him 8,000 Reichsmark for his escape.
Maimi von Mirbach hid Jews in her house multiple times. She protected them from the Gestapo. At the end of 1941, she took in Gisela Distler-Brendel. Gisela was a music student who was not allowed to study at a university. Gisela was also pregnant with an illegitimate child from a forbidden relationship. Maimi kept this secret. She risked punishment under the Nuremberg Laws.
After the war, Maimi faced hardships in the Soviet occupation zone. In 1956, she moved to Berlin-Charlottenburg. She dedicated her later years to educating students about the Nazi era. Maimi spoke at schools and youth institutions.
Israel honored Maimi von Mirbach as Righteous Among the Nations in 1981. In 1995, Potsdam named a street after her. This Maimi von Mirbach Plaque was first placed here in 1994. It was replaced with a new one after some construction work at the house.
Maimi von Mirbach’s story is a beacon of hope. It shows how one person can make a difference. This Maimi von Mirbach Plaque reminds us of her courage. Let us remember her selfless acts. She risked her life to save others. She stood against injustice.