How can a railway track hold memories? Here at Das Gedächtnis der Gleise, it does. This is not just a railway track. It is a memorial. It stands as a stark reminder of a dark chapter in Kassel’s history.
Das Gedächtnis der Gleise means “The Rail Track of Remembrance.” It marks the spot where Jewish people were deported during the Nazi regime. Between 1941 and 1942 about 2,500 Jewish women, men, and children were forced onto trains. They came from Kassel and the surrounding areas. These trains departed from what are now platforms 13 and 14.
They were sent to ghettos and extermination camps. Few survived. The city of Kassel wanted to create a memorial at the former departure point. This led to the creation of Das Gedächtnis der Gleise. Dr. Horst Hoheisel designed this artwork. The Deutsche Bahn AG and Gedenkstätte Breitenau supported the project. Many other sponsors also helped.
Now, at this historic site, we remember the deported and murdered Jewish people. The memorial was inaugurated on December 9, 2015. This date marked the 74th anniversary of the deportations’ beginning.
To truly experience Das Gedächtnis der Gleise, walk along the platform. You will see over a thousand names engraved on the tracks. These are the names of the victims. The names are not in alphabetical order. Each name represents an individual. The names come from the memorial book “Namen und Schicksale der Juden Kassels 1933-1945” by Beate Kleinert and Wolfgang Prinz.
Photographs of the deportations from Kassel are rare. However, there is a series of photos from Hanau Main Station. These photos show Jewish people being deported to Kassel on May 30, 1942. From Kassel, they were sent to Majdanek and Sobibor. This happened on June 1, 1942.
The photos document each step of the deportation. Franz Weber, a teacher from Hanau, took these photos. They show how the deportations were part of everyday life during the Nazi era. Other passengers waited for their trains. They barely noticed the deportations.
The photos show Jews leaving the platform. They carry luggage. Most wear winter coats. They packed their few belongings into rucksacks and suitcases. Researcher Monica Kingreen identified many people in the photos. Almost none of them survived. They were murdered in Majdanek and Sobibor.
Das Gedächtnis der Gleise serves as a place for reflection. It is a reminder of the atrocities committed. It urges us to remember the victims. It encourages us to fight against hatred and discrimination. May this place forever remind us of the importance of human dignity.