“Dort, wo man Bücher verbrennt, verbrennt man auch am Ende Menschen.” These chilling words of Heinrich Heine are etched into the Mahnmal zur Erinnerung an die Bücherverbrennung. We stand here today, at this memorial in Hamburg, contemplating the events that transpired on May 15, 1933. The Mahnmal zur Erinnerung an die Bücherverbrennung, established in 1985, serves as a stark reminder of a dark chapter in history. On that day, members of the SA, some of whom were Hamburg students, gathered at the Kaiser-Friedrich-Ufer. They lit a bonfire, fueled by books deemed “un-German” by the Nazi regime. Imagine the scene: Works by literary giants like Erich Kästner, Bertold Brecht, and Franz Kafka consumed by flames. The irony is that this act of destruction was intended as a grand public spectacle, yet it attracted a meager audience. Undeterred, Nazi organizers orchestrated a second book burning five days later at Lübecker Tor. This time, they mandated the attendance of thousands of their members, ensuring a larger crowd. The Mahnmal zur Erinnerung an die Bücherverbrennung isn’t a grand monument. It’s a semicircle of stone, punctuated by four red marble blocks. These blocks bear witness to the past. They display Heine’s prophetic quote, titles of incinerated books, and the names of some Hamburg authors whose works were targeted. They also carry a plea: resist fascism and war. Every year on May 15th, the Mahnmal zur Erinnerung an die Bücherverbrennung becomes a stage for remembrance. A marathon reading of banned texts takes place here. It’s an opportunity to give voice to the silenced, to ensure that the words and ideas deemed dangerous by the Nazis continue to resonate. So, as you stand before the Mahnmal zur Erinnerung an die Bücherverbrennung, remember the power of words. Remember the fragility of freedom. And remember the importance of vigilance against all forms of oppression.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to