Imagine being a Jewish judge in Berlin in 1933. The Richter am Arbeitsgericht Plaque before us commemorates a dark chapter. It honors those judges who faced persecution. They were driven out or murdered by the Nazis.
The Arbeitsgericht Berlin is Germany’s largest labor court. It stands as a symbol of justice. But its history is also marked by injustice.
In 1926, Germany established labor courts. The Arbeitsgericht Berlin was one of them. Its jurisdiction covered a vast area. It included many districts around Berlin.
However, the rise of Nazism changed everything. The Nazis curtailed the labor courts’ power. Cases at the Arbeitsgericht Berlin plummeted. From over 45000 in 1933 to just 17300 in 1939.
After World War II, the courts reopened. The Arbeitsgericht Berlin resumed operations in 1946. But Berlin’s division also split the court. The eastern part moved to Inselstraße 12.
Today, the Arbeitsgericht Berlin reunites the entire city. It is located at Magdeburger Platz 1. The building is a converted warehouse.
Since November 2012, this plaque has stood here. It bears the names of the persecuted judges. These judges worked at the Berliner Arbeitsgericht until 1933.
Let’s read some of their names on the Richter am Arbeitsgericht Plaque. Ernst Aschner fled in 1941. Berthold Auerbach was deported to Minsk in 1942. Wolfgang Gaston Friedmann escaped in 1933. Ernst Heinitz also fled in 1933. Fritz Herrmann escaped in 1939. Otto Kahn-Freund escaped in 1933. Kurt Kronheim was deported to Auschwitz in 1942. Martin Landsberger survived in a mixed marriage. Hans Lehmann fled in 1934. Martin Matzdorf was deported to Auschwitz in 1942. Friedrich Oppler escaped in 1940. Ernst Ruben died in 1944. His death resulted from denied assistance. Arthur Sello died in 1944 during an air raid. Kurt Tuchler escaped in 1936. None of those deported survived.
The Richter am Arbeitsgericht Plaque reminds us of their fate. It reminds us of the fragility of justice. It urges us to remember and learn from history. This memorial serves as a constant reminder. It stands against all forms of discrimination.