Gustav Schiefelbein Plaque

Hidden on Driesener Straße, the Gustav Schiefelbein Plaque whispers a story of defiance. This unassuming metal rectangle commemorates a life tragically cut short by the Nazis. Gustav Schiefelbein, born in 1889, was a prominent figure in the German communist movement. He started his political journey with the USPD and later joined the KPD. He was a workers’ advocate, serving as chairman of the works council at AEG Hennigsdorf and as a city councilor. His activism extended to leading the Rotfrontkämpferbund (Red Front Fighters League) in Saxony. In 1943, Schiefelbein’s commitment to justice led to his arrest. He had been aiding Soviet prisoners of war and forced laborers. For this act of compassion, he was deported to Neuengamme concentration camp. The Gustav Schiefelbein Plaque marks not only his birthplace but also the tragic end of his life. In 1945, Schiefelbein was aboard the Cap Arcona, a prison ship tragically sunk by the British. He perished along with thousands of other prisoners, just days before the war’s end. The Gustav Schiefelbein Plaque serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of tyranny. His story, etched in metal, speaks to us across the decades. It reminds us to cherish the freedoms we often take for granted. Schiefelbein’s plaque was officially unveiled in 1956. It stands as a testament to his bravery and a somber memorial to the countless victims of Nazi persecution.