A memorial dedicated to the persecuted Jehovah's Witnesses during the Nazi regime will open in Berlin in late June, commemorating the suffering of nearly 14,000 individuals imprisoned and over 1,700 who lost their lives due to their faith.
In a poignant recognition of the suffering endured by Jehovah's Witnesses during the Nazi regime, a memorial is set to be inaugurated in Berlin by the end of June. This initiative comes more than 80 years after the end of the Nazi dictatorship and is intended to honor the nearly 14,000 members of this Christian denomination who were imprisoned starting in 1933. Under the brutal conditions of the regime, victims were marked with a 'purple triangle' in concentration camps, and it is estimated that at least 1,700 Jehovah's Witnesses perished because of their faith and refusal to conform to Nazi ideology.
The memorial, which will consist of a bronze sculpture created by artist Matthias Leeck, is to be installed near the Goldfish Pond in the Tiergarten, close to the memorial for the murdered Jews of Europe. The location holds historical significance, as it was here on August 22, 1936, that the Gestapo apprehended several Jehovah's Witnesses. This memorial not only serves to remember the community's suffering but also seeks to raise awareness of the persecution they faced amidst the broader context of Nazi atrocities.
Anticipation for the memorial's opening is building, with a formal ceremony planned for June 24, featuring notable participants such as Bundestag President Julia Klöckner, Culture State Minister Wolfram Weimer, and Berlin's cultural senator, Sarah Wedl-Wilson. This event marks an essential step in recognizing the historical injustices inflicted upon Jehovah's Witnesses, aligning with a decision made by the Bundestag almost three years prior to create a lasting tribute to their courage and resilience in the face of oppression.
