Ravensbrück Memorial Museum
Programme for the 78th Anniversairy of the Liberation now online
17. April 2023
Programme to mark the 78th anniversary of liberation
20 April – 30 April 2023
(Preparations as at 13 March 2023; subject to modifications)
This year's commemoration on the occasion of the 78th anniversary of the liberation of the prisoners of Ravensbrück concentration camp will take place on Sunday, April 23 at 10 a.m. at the Ravensbrück Memorial.
The commemoration ceremony will be surrounded by a diverse program that runs from April 20 to April 30, the historic date of the liberation of the women's concentration camp. Survivors of the Ravensbrück concentration camp are expected to attend. Among them is the Danish survivor Ib Katznelson, who will speak at the commemoration ceremony on April 23, along with Minister President Dietmar Woidke. Ib Katznelson was born on October 30, 1941 in Copenhagen. At the age of two
he and his mother Karen Katznelson were deported to Ravensbrück. For his decades of tireless work as a witness, he was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit in January 2023.
Thursday, 20 April 2023
19:00 hrs
Book review and discussion with author Barbara Yelin
Presentation of the graphic novel “Aber ich lebe. Vier Kinder überleben den Holocaust” [But I live. Four children survive the holocaust] in the presence of the Ravensbrück survivor Emmie Arbel (Israel)
Moderated by Dr. Matthias Heyl, Ravensbrück Memorial
Where: Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, Strasse der Pariser Kommune 8a, 10243 Berlin
Please register under
Event held in cooperation with the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation
Friday, 21 April 2023
11:00 hrs
Renewal of the waymarks
Students of the Ernst Litfass School in Berlin renew the waymarks on the Road of Remembrance leading from Fürstenberg train station to Ravensbrück memorial. They are supported by Ingo Grollmus.
Saturday, 22 April 2023
11:00 hrs
In remembrance of the group of Polish prisoners
Where: Fürstenberg/Havel Main Cemetery, Friedhofsweg 2, 16798 Fürstenberg/Havel
Organized by the Lagergemeinschaft Ravensbrück/Freundeskreis e.V.
12:00-18:00 hrs
SPUR.lab – Digital projects on show
The team of the research lab presents prototypes for teaching history digitally.
Spur.lab is a research project of the Brandenburgische Gesellschaft für Kultur und Geschichte, the Brandenburg Memorials Foundation and the Konrad Wolf Film University of Babelsberg.
Where: former “waterworks”
12:30-14:30 hrs
Guided tour of the historic camp area
Held in German and English
Where: meet at Visitor Information Centre
15:00 hrs
Remembrance at the former “Uckermark Youth Concentration Camp”
Commemorative event with speeches and music
Where: Uckermark Youth Concentration Camp
Meet for free rides at Ravensbrück Memorial, Haus der Lagergemeinschaft, starting at 14:15 hrs
Organized by the Initiativefür einen Gedenkort Uckermark e.V./Netzwerk
16:00 hrs
Exhibition of artistic works relating to the biography of Gustav Fritz Herzberg
Welcome:
Dr. Andrea Genest, Director, Ravensbrück Memorial
Introducing the project:
Xenia Trost, great-niece of former inmate Gustav Fritz Herzberg
Katharina Jesdinsky, Prof. Piotr Nathan and a student of the Muthesius University of Fine Arts and Design in Kiel
Where: former textile factory
Held in cooperation with the drawing and print graphics class of the Muthesius University of Fine Arts and Design in Kiel
17:00 hrs
Book review and discussion
Brigitte Halbmayr: “Brüchiges Schweigen. Tod in Ravensbrück – auf den Spuren von Anna Burger” [Fragile silence. Death at Ravensbrück – in the footsteps of Anna Burger]
Mandelbaum Verlag Vienna, Berlin 2023
The author talks to Siegrid Fahrecker, granddaughter of Anna Burger.
Where: large foyer in the garage complex
Held in cooperation with the Austrian Camp Community Ravensbrück and Friends e.V.
18:30 hrs
Get-together
Where: large event hall
20:00 hrs
Film show “Nelly & Nadine”
Documentary film by Magnus Gertten from 2022
Where: Kulturgasthof “Alte Reederei”, Brandenburger Strasse 38, 16798 Fürstenberg/Havel
Organized by the Ravensbrück Lagergemeinschaft/Freundeskreis e.V.
Sunday, 23 April 2023
09:00 hrs
Commemoration at the Soviet Memorial
Remembrance with music played by accordionist Tanja Buttenborg
Please wear civilian clothes.
Where: Soviet memorial, Bahnhofstrasse
Organized by the Ravensbrück Lagergemeinschaft/Freundeskreis e.V.
10:00-12:00 hrs
Central commemorative ceremony
Where: square in front of the former Kommandantur
Official welcome:
Dr. Andrea Genest, Director, Ravensbrück Memorial
Ambra Laurenzi, President, International Ravensbrück Committee
Robert Philipp, Mayor of the town of Fürstenberg/Havel
Message of greeting:
Dr. Dietmar Woidke, Minister-President of the State of Brandenburg
Speeches:
Ib Katznelson, survivor of Ravensbrück concentration camp
Dr. Irina Sherbakova, founding member of the human rights organization Memorial
Musical accompaniment:
Céline Bocquillon (vocals), Katharzina Wieczerzak (double bass), Renaud Cayla (guitar)
Religious remembrance:
The Ravensbrück prayer, Barbara Piotrowska, Warschau
Kaddish, Cantor Mimi Sheffer, Cantor Issak Sheffer, Berlin
Laying wreaths at the memorial statue Burdened Woman
12:00-18:00 hrs
SPUR.lab – Digital projects on show
The team of the research lab presents prototypes for teaching history digitally.
Spur.lab is a research project of the Brandenburgische Gesellschaft für Kultur und Geschichte, the Brandenburg Memorials Foundation and the Konrad Wolf Film University of Babelsberg.
Where: former “waterworks”
12:30 hrs
Catholic memorial service in Polish
Where: former cell building
Organization: Polish Catholic Mission in the Archdiocese Berlin
13:00 hrs
Remembering lesbian women and girls
Where: new memorial site
Organized by the Autonomous Feminist Women and Lesbians from Germany and Austria Initiative
15:00 hrs
“Staying Human” – Interreligious remembrance
Walking along the way stations across the site
Organized by the Zukunftswerkstatt interreligiöses Gedenken Working Group
Where and when: meet at the square in front of the former Kommandantur at 14:45 hrs
Sunday 30 April 2023
16:00 hrs
International forum of the second and third generations (online)
Platform of exchange for relatives of former prisoners
Moderated by Dr. Matthias Heyl and Dr. Andrea Genest
Languages: English, French, Polish and German with simultaneous interpretation
Please register under .
By participating in the event, you agree to be photographed and allow organizers to use the images for documentation of and internal reports about the event and publish them on the internet. In addition, the images may also be made available to media representatives on request.
Illustration:
Liberated Ravensbrück prisoners arriving in Padborg, Denmark. April/May 1945
Photographed by Tage Christensen. Image rights: Picture Alliance
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