“What does it mean to be forgotten?” That question echoes as we stand before the Denkzeichen in Berlin-Buch für die Opfer der nationalsozialistischen Zwangssterilisation und “Euthanasie”-Morde Sculpture. This memorial, a stark white, oversized pillow, serves as a potent reminder of a dark chapter in history. It stands on the grounds of what was once the Heil- und Pflegeanstalt Buch. This was a central location for Nazi “Euthanasie” murders in the Berlin area.
The Denkzeichen in Berlin-Buch is more than just a sculpture. It’s a symbol of remembrance. It marks a place where unspeakable acts occurred. The “Zentraldienststelle T4”, named after Tiergartenstraße 4, orchestrated the “Euthanasie Program”. This program involved the killing of mentally ill or disabled people using carbon monoxide. Six killing centers existed within the German Reich for this purpose.
Initially, the III. Berliner Irrenanstalt here was known for its modern treatment methods. However, with the rise of the Nazis, conditions for patients deteriorated drastically. Nearly 800 patients from Buch were forcibly sterilized following the 1933 law. This law aimed to prevent the birth of those deemed hereditarily ill. During “Aktion T4”, the hospital was dissolved. Patients were moved. Most were murdered in gas chambers at Brandenburg an der Havel and Bernburg.
Even until the war’s end in 1945, many patients fell victim to “decentralized Euthanasia”. This involved intentional drug overdoses, starvation, and inadequate care. In July 1940, the Heil- und Pflegeanstalt Buch became a collection point. Jewish psychiatric patients from Berlin and Brandenburg were deported. They were transported to Brandenburg an der Havel and murdered simply because of their heritage.
For decades, the grounds of the former Heil- und Pflegeanstalt offered no acknowledgement of these atrocities. Today a private clinic stands here. Finally, in November 2013, the Denkzeichen in Berlin-Buch was unveiled. The artist Patricia Pisani designed the oversized white pillow. The pillow features first names on its surface. An information panel provides historical context.
The Denkzeichen uses a seemingly gentle image to represent a brutal history. The pillow bears the imprint of a head. Relief letters on top display the names of victims. The Denkzeichen doesn’t accuse but poignantly marks an absence. It connects the past with the present-day clinic.
Citizens from Buch, the Stiftung Denkmal für die ermordeten Juden Europas, and the Bund der Euthanasiegeschädigten supported this project. The Denkzeichen in Berlin-Buch was made possible by many organizations. These included the Senatskanzlei Kulturelle Angelegenheiten, Hauptstadtkulturfonds, and Bezirkskulturfonds Pankow. Financial support also came from the Stiftung Denkmal für die ermordeten Juden Europas.
As we stand here, let us reflect on the victims. Let us remember the importance of vigilance. The Denkzeichen in Berlin-Buch stands as a powerful symbol. It urges us to never forget the atrocities of the past. It is a place for reflection, remembrance, and a commitment to a more humane future.