Showing posts with label BAMBERG. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BAMBERG. Show all posts

Bamberg Germany - Stolpersteine and Civil Courage


Click on player above to see Pat's video titled, "Stolpersteine - Window on Bamberg Series".

One of the things you would notice on a walking tour of Bamberg would be the Stolpersteine. These are brass covered stones positioned in front of specific buildings where Jewish people were forcibly removed from their homes and sent to Nazi concentration camps. Each stone is engraved with the name of the person taken, their birth date, the date they were taken, the camp they were taken to, and the date they were murdered.

The word Stolpersteine literally translated means stumbling stone. The point being that as people walk along and they see these stones, the memory of those who died is kept alive. From what I have been told, there are 20,000 of these stones in Europe, mainly in Germany. They were all made by one man, Gunter Denmig. He had the idea to honor the dead in this way. The stones now represent the world's largest decentralized memorial. Click here to see the complete list (in German) of stones commemorating the Jews taken and later killed by the Nazi's.

The organization behind the Bamberg stones is the Willy-Aron-Gesellschaft organization. I was fortunate to meet Andreas Ullmann. He is a student at the University of Bamberg who donated money for two stones and is an active member of the organization. Andreas introduced me to Dr. Nikolai Czugunow-Schmitt, the President of the Willy-Aron-Gesellschaft Bamberg organization.

We met for nearly two hours at a local restaurant, DaCaBo, where he explained the purpose of the stones and the organizations plans for a large memorial to be erected on the grounds of Bamberg University. The memorial will honor three men killed by the Nazis, one a Jew, Willy Aron, one a Catholic, Hans Wolfel, and one a German Army officer in the 17th Calvary Regiment of the Reichswehr, Colonel Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg. His regiment was based in Bamberg, but Stauffenberg had to work in Berlin where he became responsible for the emergency plan called "Walkure". He and his friends changed that plan so it could be used to arrest the Nazi Government officials and the SS. Stauffenberg tried to assassinate Hitler by placing a briefcase with a bomb in it under a table where Hitler was meeting with his generals. Stauffenberg left the meeting and another general moved the briefcase behind a pillar to get it out of the way. The pillar took the brunt of the explosion and Hitler received minor scratches. They knew Stauffenberg was responsible and picked him up immediately. Recently, Tom Cruise made a movie about von Stauffenberg, called Valkryie.

The memorial will consist of 3 bronze busts depicting the heroes. It is a unique concept in that the men being honored came from disparate backgrounds. Each gave their lives and showed tremendous Civil Courage by their individual resistance efforts against the Nazi regime. The purpose of this important memorial will serve as a reminder to future generations of the importance of Civil Courage, sacrifice and to be willing to fight against evil. The organization gives out an award each year to a person who has demonstrated Civil Courage.

The cost of the memorial is 100,000 Euro (approximately $136,000). They still need to raise 70,000 Euro (approximately $95,200). Their goal is to raise the memorial in late 2010.

The Willy-Aron-Gesellschaft organization is trying to raise money for another 210 stones to be placed in Bamberg. The cost per stone is 125 Euro (approximately $170). Donors can choose the name of a person to honor in stone or let the organization decide.

Update: On June 25, 2016, the memorial to Civil Courage was unveiled.  Click here to see the photos of the installation.

I later connected the Willy Aron society with the JROTC youth on the Bamberg military base. They became friends and I was able to set up a meeting with both groups. The video below shows that meeting and the cadets speaking about civil courage.



This piece, written by Pat, was originally posted on our website on March 21, 2010.

Bamberg Germany - Table Set For Fallen Soldiers

Table set for fallen soldiers

Earlier this week I was meeting Bob at the dining facility on base (USAG Bamberg, Germany) and, realizing I was going to have to wait a while, I asked if I could sit in an empty chair sitting behind at a table located near the door. The soldier collecting the money at the facility said, “No, Maam, that table is reserved for our fallen soldiers who never made it back.” It was only then that I noticed the tableware and a large standing card that explained the significance of the setting.

Today was Thanksgiving and we again went to the dining hall to have a truly fantastic meal, surrounded by soldiers and officers in their Dress Blues. This time I took my camera and asked permission of the soldier collecting the money at the door to photograph the table. The staff sergeant in charge of the facility happened to walk up at that very moment and heard my request. He smiled and said, “Yes, of course, please do.”

It’s strange how things happen. As we moved down the cafeteria-style line, I asked permission to take a picture of the five handsome Commanding Officers all decked out in their finest uniforms, serving the food. They all looked excited and lined up, but my camera batteries died at that very moment. I never got the shot. The significance of which to me served as a reminder to keep me focused on the spirit of Thanksgiving, and what we, who live in peace and freedom, truly have to be thankful for.

I have done a little research and found out that at every Army military ball and dining facility, a table like this is set up.  At the formal events, a toast is made, reciting the material noted on the card, to which no one drinks, in honor of the fallen soldiers.

I copied the information from the card on the table that relates the significance of the items placed thereon. I hope you find it as poignant and moving as I did.

Table set in remembrance of fallen soldiers

This Table, It is Small – set for one, symbolizing the frailty of one prisoner alone against his oppressors.

The Table Cloth is White – symbolizing the purity of their intentions to respond to their country’s call to arms.

The Single Rose – displayed in the vase reminds us of the families and friends of our mission brothers who keep faith while awaiting their return.

The Red Ribbon – tied prominently on the vase reminds us of the red ribbons worn on the lapels and brothers who are not among us tonight.

The Place Setting – single, alone no friends or family to dine with.

A slice of Lemon – reminds us of their bitter fate.

Salt Sprinkled – on the plate reminds us of the countless fallen tears of families as they wait.

The Glass is Inverted – they cannot toast with us this night.

The Chair is Empty – they are not here.

The Candle – reminiscent of the light of hope which lives in our hearts to light the way home: from their captors to the open arms of a grateful nation.

The Bible – represents the strength gained through faith to sustain those lost from us, from our country, founded as one nation under God.

Let us pray to the Supreme Commandant that all our brothers will soon again be among our ranks.

This piece, written by Pat, was originally posted on our website on November 26, 2009.

Bamberg Germany - May Day Celebration

The Germans love to party and May day is a national holiday. Check out the video I shot from the window of our apartment of the awesome mostly female drum band performing in the Gruner Markt.



This piece, written by Pat, originally appeared on our website on May 2, 2010.