Euthanasie-Gedenkort

From a place of healing to a site of unspeakable tragedy. That’s the grim duality of the Euthanasie-Gedenkort. This memorial, located on the grounds of the present-day Asklepios Klinik Nord, stands as a stark reminder of the atrocities committed during the Nazi regime. The Euthanasie-Gedenkort commemorates the thousands of patients who were systematically murdered under the guise of a “euthanasia” program. Between 1939 and 1945, over 3,600 people were transported from this very site to killing centers and other institutions. More than 2,400 of them perished. The victims included 135 Jewish patients deported in 1940. The Euthanasie-Gedenkort also remembers the over 20 children murdered in the children’s ward. A plaque at the Walter-Behmann-Haus (House 42) bears witness to these horrors. It serves as a poignant reminder of the lives lost and the inhumanity of the Nazi regime. The plaque’s inscription urges us to treat every human being with dignity and respect. The website www.hamburger-euthanasie-opfer.de lists the names of over 4,700 victims of the Nazi euthanasia program from Hamburg. These individuals were killed during World War II. The total number of victims deported from Hamburg institutions exceeds 6,000. The Euthanasie-Gedenkort isn’t just a memorial. It is a call to action, a reminder to never forget, and a testament to the importance of human dignity. The Euthanasie-Gedenkort compels us to confront this dark chapter of history and to learn from its tragic lessons.