by Wolfgang Swietek
Themar – This is not the first time that action artist Gunter Demnig has traveled from Cologne to Themar. Already last year he has laid here Stolpersteine in memory of former Jewish fellow citizens. Yesterday he was active again, with eleven more Stolpersteine should be commemorated in the future of the families S. J. Baer and Max and Clara MĂŒller.
Many people from Themar, but also citizens from other places in the district attended the ceremony. Alone 25 guests from several countries had taken a long way for it – grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the former Jewish fellow citizens of Themar, who had not survived the Holocaust.
Mayor Hubert Böse welcomed the guests with moving words. His words were not easy for him when he apologized to the descendants present on behalf of the town for all the suffering that happened to their parents, grandparents or great-grandparents in this town. He said that this could not be an apology for the fact that this had happened almost eight decades ago, even for those living today. It is unimaginable how citizens behaved towards their fellow citizens who lived, worked and worked for the common good in this city for many years, often for generations. With the laying of the Stolpersteine, the city wants to set an example and make a clear commitment to do everything possible to ensure that something like this never happens again.
Mixed feelings
The honest consternation of the people of Themar who had come to this event also impressed the guests from Israel, Canada and many other countries. “Being here in Themar today is not easy for us – we are all here with very mixed feelings,” Richard Stern confessed, “It is still incomprehensible to understand how the citizens of this small town with a long and highly developed history and culture could turn against their neighbors and be complicit in their expulsion and murder.” He said what happened was all the more incomprehensible because his parents and grandparents were loyal and patriotic Germans. “My brother Nick, my sister Naomi and her husband Rafal, and myself, we are here on behalf of all the Jews of Themar and all the victims of the Holocaust. We very much appreciate that Themar recognizes the injustices of the past and that these Stolpersteine will be a constant reminder. At the same time, we would like to thank the citizens of Themar for their hospitality as well as all those who made today possible.”
Richard Stern had another compliment for the people of Themar: “While our father would certainly have welcomed the laying of the Stolpersteine – he would certainly have been even more moved by how openly and honestly the Germans have faced up to their history and educated their youth in this way in the knowledge of the burdened past. These actions are all the more remarkable because some other countries still refuse to honestly acknowledge their own complicity.”
An affected look back is appropriate on a November 9. But it was Richard Stern – along with other descendants of former Jewish fellow citizens who spoke – who did not leave out the present and put it in context with this inglorious chapter of German history. “In conclusion: We appreciate – and I am sure our father would have thought the same – the open door and hospitality that Germany shows to today’s Middle Eastern refugees. By acting in this way, the people of Germany have shown human decency and helped those who are suffering through no fault of their own – and Germany has set an impressive example. We can only hope that other countries, including our own, will soon follow this good example.”
Market 8. photo: Wolfgang Swietek
Market 8. photo: Wolfgang Swietek