Perhaps you have noticed the imposing stone structure before us. This is the Ehrenmal. It is Lüneburg’s monument to fallen soldiers. However its story is complex. It requires us to confront uncomfortable truths about the past.
The Ehrenmal was erected to honor soldiers. Specifically it honored those of the 110th Infantry Division. This division was formed in Lüneburg in 1940 and 1941. It was intended for the invasion of the Soviet Union. The division participated in war crimes. They deported around 50000 civilians to death camps in Belarus in 1944. About 9000 of them died.
In 1960 war veterans initiated the stone’s placement. The city of Lüneburg maintained it faithfully. The monument features a quote in a font reminiscent of NS-era script. It also features a Viking ship. This was the emblem of the 110th Infantry Division.
Over the years the Ehrenmal became controversial. In 2015 Holocaust survivors visited Lüneburg. They were there for the trial of Oskar Gröning. He was a former KZ guard. The sight of the Ehrenmal shocked them.
In 2018 the city added an explanatory panel. It acknowledged the monument was controversial. It stated that it was a painful and offensive reminder to victims’ descendants. However some felt the text was too general. It spoke of “crimes against humanity”. It did not specifically mention the division’s involvement in the Holocaust.
Following a lawsuit by Holocaust survivors the city agreed to amend the text. The amended text explicitly states the 110th Infantry Division’s involvement in the murder of Jews. This occurred in the Soviet Union from 1941 to 1944.
The Ehrenmal has also been subject to vandalism. A city spokesperson stated they consider the damaged stone a public symbol. It represents differing viewpoints in the culture of remembrance. The Ehrenmal stands as a reminder. Remembering the past requires a willingness to face difficult truths. It is not about glorifying war. It is about acknowledging the suffering caused by conflict.