Shoa Memorial

In the heart of Herne, a city in the North Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany, stands a poignant and powerful testament to history—the Shoa Memorial (locally known as Shoa-Mahnmal). This memorial is not just a stone structure but a deeply moving tribute to the Jewish victims from Herne and Wanne-Eickel who suffered persecution, deportation, and murder during the National Socialist regime.

The Genesis of the Shoa Memorial

The journey towards the creation of the Shoa Memorial began with a resolution passed by the Herne City Council on July 13, 2004. This resolution called for the establishment of memorial sites to honor the victims of the Shoah from Herne and Wanne-Eickel. Between 2004 and 2008, ten decentralized memorial plaques were installed, each telling a story of Jewish life in these areas.

In January 2008, the city launched a nationwide competition for the design of a central memorial. The only stipulation was the inclusion of the names of over 400 victims from Herne and Wanne-Eickel. From 29 submissions, a seven-member jury selected three designs, and on September 23, 2008, the city council chose the design by industrial designers Gabriele Graffunder and Winfried Venne (G&V Design).

The realization of this design, costing approximately €90,000, was funded by the Art and Culture Foundation of the Herner Sparkasse. The memorial was inaugurated on January 29, 2010, in a ceremony attended by former Jewish citizens of Herne and Wanne-Eickel, and Charlotte Knobloch, then President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, delivered the keynote address.

The Design and Structure

The Shoa Memorial is an imposing structure measuring 6.5 meters in length, 3.25 meters in width, and 3.5 meters in height. It is situated on Willi-Pohlmann-Platz, nestled between the Herner Sparkasse building and the Herne Cultural Center. The memorial features custom-made glass oculars embedded in a concrete panel. A dark, anthracite-colored, walkable ramp leads to a 9-centimeter-thick, upright memorial plaque made of yellowish fiber-reinforced concrete with stainless steel reinforcement. At the top of this plaque, a golden Star of David is embedded, a symbol of Jewish identity and remembrance.

Embedded within the plaque are 401 glass oculars, each bearing the names, birth and death dates, and places of death of the known victims from Herne and Wanne-Eickel. Additionally, nine oculars are dedicated to unknown victims. The memorial's design ensures that from a distance, the letters appear lost, but upon closer inspection, the individual inscriptions become clear, bringing the victims into focus and out of anonymity.

Inscribed in Hebrew on the plaque is a phrase commonly found on Jewish tombstones: May their souls be bound up in the bundle of life (תהיה נפשו/נפשה צרורה בצרור החיים). At the beginning of the five-meter-long ramp, which symbolizes the selection ramps in concentration camps, the words Remember 1933-1945 are inscribed in both Hebrew and German. Along the sides of the ramp, the names of various ghettos and concentration, labor, and extermination camps where the victims were deported or murdered are listed, including Auschwitz, Buchenwald, Dachau, and many others.

Symbolism and Purpose

The designers' concept emphasizes that the visitor must consciously walk the dark path of the ramp, symbolizing the arduous journey of coming to terms with this dark chapter of history. The inclined ramp signifies the challenging path of historical reflection and the need to bow before the victims.

To protect the memorial from vandalism, a bronze portal system on rails was added in early 2020. This system, designed in collaboration with the original creators, features metal plates engraved with locations of Jewish life in Herne, extending the artistic and historical narrative of the memorial.

Part of a Larger Remembrance Culture

The Shoa Memorial is a central element of Herne's broader remembrance culture, which includes the decentralized memorial plaques installed throughout the city. These plaques, part of the project Nahtstellen, fühlbar, hier… (Seams, tangible, here…), were created by local student groups and recount individual stories of Jewish life and persecution. Together, these plaques and the Shoa Memorial form a cohesive network of remembrance sites dedicated to the victims of the Shoah from Herne and Wanne-Eickel.

In 2019, two additional plaques were added, commemorating the Wertheim family and the Frank family, further enriching the city's tapestry of memory. On the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of National Socialism in 2021, the city commissioned a short film about local remembrance culture, accessible via QR codes on the Shoa Memorial and other plaques.

A Place of Reflection and Education

Despite facing multiple instances of vandalism, the Shoa Memorial stands resilient, embodying the collective memory and commitment to never forget the atrocities of the past. It serves as a place of reflection, education, and a solemn reminder of the importance of tolerance and human rights.

Visiting the Shoa Memorial in Herne is not just an encounter with history but a profound experience that underscores the enduring impact of remembrance and the imperative to honor those who suffered and perished during one of humanity's darkest periods.