On a quiet street in Berlin, a metal plaque affixed to a stone post bears the name Kurt Schneider. The Gedenktafel für Kurt Schneider isn’t grand, but it holds a heavy story. This plaque, unveiled on August 17, 2021, marks the spot where Kurt Schneider, a 38-year-old mason, became a victim of hate. In the early hours of October 6, 1999, Kurt was walking home from a gas station on Frankfurter Allee. He encountered four neo-Nazis who targeted him simply for existing. They saw him as “lesser,” his simple greeting a provocation. The Gedenktafel für Kurt Schneider stands near the former Lichtenberg cemetery, the very place where this senseless act of violence occurred. Initially, the courts dismissed the political motivation, attributing the murder to a robbery cover-up. However, years later, a 2018 study by the Technical University of Berlin shed new light on the truth. The study revealed the undeniable right-wing extremist nature of the crime. Kurt Schneider’s name was finally added to the official list of victims of right-wing violence. The Gedenktafel für Kurt Schneider is a stark reminder of the ever-present threat of hate and the importance of remembrance. It is the 30th memorial supported by the Lichtenberg Fund for Remembrance Culture since 2008. This plaque is more than just metal; it is a testament to a life lost and a call for continued vigilance against all forms of hatred. It ensures Kurt Schneider, and the injustice he suffered, will not be forgotten.
Genossenschaft PA58
From 1981 the Genossenschaft PA58 stands tall. It’s a self-managed house project. This is its story. This impressive building in