Does this square seem unassuming? Anneliese-und-Georg-Groscurth-Platz holds a powerful story of resistance. It honors Anneliese and Georg Groscurth. They were a remarkable couple who defied the Nazi regime.
This place was named Anneliese-und-Georg-Groscurth-Platz on August 11, 2006. Before that, the square was just a green space. It sat between the lanes of Lindenallee. Ulmenallee and Nussbaumallee border it.
Georg Groscurth was a doctor. He lived from 1904 to 1944. During the Nazi era, he co-founded the resistance group “European Union”. His friend Robert Havemann helped him. Georg risked his life to fight oppression.
Anneliese Groscurth lived from 1910 to 1996. She was Georg’s wife. Anneliese supported her husband’s resistance work. She faced hardship after the war.
The “European Union” helped those persecuted by the Nazis. The group produced leaflets. They hid Jews and other endangered people. They provided food and false papers. The “European Union” gave them information. The group grew to about 50 members.
The Gestapo eventually caught up with them. Paul Hatschek was arrested on September 3, 1943. He was interrogated. The Gestapo arrested everyone Hatschek named. Over 40 members of the “European Union” were arrested.
Georg Groscurth was arrested. He was sentenced to death. He was executed on May 8, 1944. His last letter to Anneliese spoke of dying for a better future. A future without hatred.
Anneliese faced more struggles after the war. Former Nazis made her life difficult. She was fired from her job as a doctor. She was denied a passport and her pension.
The German writer Friedrich Christian Delius wrote about the Groscurths. His novel “Mein Jahr als Mörder” told their story. It helped bring recognition to their resistance.
In 2006, Yad Vashem honored the Groscurths. They were named Righteous Among the Nations. This recognized their courage in saving Jews. Anneliese-und-Georg-Groscurth-Platz was named after them.
You can visit Georg Groscurth’s grave. It is located in the Friedhof Heerstraße. Anneliese was buried next to him in 1996. Their graves have been honored as Ehrengräber des Landes Berlin since 2020.
Anneliese-und-Georg-Groscurth-Platz is more than just a square. It is a reminder of courage. It is a testament to the power of resistance. It honors two people who fought for what was right. Their legacy lives on in this place.