Many memorial sites and commemorative events for the tyranny of the National Socialists in the Burghausen city area
The time of National Socialist tyranny is a dark hour in German and therefore also in Burghausen's history. For many decades, the city of Burghausen has been committed to working through and explaining this chapter of the city's history. Shortly after the end of the Second World War, National Socialist honorary citizenships were revoked and streets were renamed. Numerous memorial sites have been created and commemorative events are held regularly in cooperation with various institutions.
In 1946, those streets were renamed that previously bore the names of high-ranking National Socialists, including today's Robert-Koch-Straße instead of the name Hindenburgstraße. A little later, some streets were given the names of courageous freedom fighters, such as Josef-Stegmair-Straße, or Nazi opponents, such as Dr.-Wilhelm-Hoegner-Platz.
Keep in mind the horror and suffering of war and violence
There are four memorial sites in the Burghausen urban area that commemorate the horrors of National Socialism. On the Napoleonshöhe is the memorial and memorial of the city of Burghausen for the victims and fallen of the Second World War. At the inauguration in the summer of 1970, the then Mayor Georg Miesgang said: "I now hand over this place to its purpose: May it always keep the horror and suffering of war and violence in mind for us and for future generations."
The concentration camp cemetery is located at the Powder Tower. On July 28, 1945, 253 concentration camp prisoners who had died were buried here. They were among the more than 2200 concentration camp prisoners found in the forest camp near Mettenheim, a satellite camp of the Dachau concentration camp. The names of the victims are not known. At the concentration camp cemetery there is an information board against forgetting.
In 2013, the city created a memorial for the Burghausen victims of the Bavarian Freedom Action. It is now in the Botanical Garden. The members of the Bavarian Freedom Action wanted to end the war and the rule of the National Socialists prematurely and were striving for a non-violent surrender. The Bavaria-wide action failed. The three Burghausen residents Jakob Scheipel, Ludwig Schön and Josef Stegmair, who had taken part in the liberation campaign, were executed just a few days before the end of the war.
They were all employed by the Wacker company. They are also commemorated on the factory premises with a memorial.
Also in the botanical garden are stumbling blocks that commemorate the Galitzenstein family. They lived in the official villa of the Wacker company, which was located in what is now the botanical garden. The father of the family, Dr. Eugen Galitzenstein was the son of a Jew. However, he converted to the Protestant faith long before the beginning of the National Socialist tyranny. In 1939 the family had to emigrate to England under unworthy conditions.
The youth care in particular is very active
Events to commemorate Jewish fellow citizens, the persecuted and resistance fighters are held regularly in Burghausen. Schools visit the memorials, there are prayers and annual wreath-laying and guided tours. Major events also take place again and again, such as in 2020 on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the handover of the concentration camp cemetery to the city of Burghausen.
Above all, the Burghauser youth care is very active. She works closely with the association "For remembering - KZ-Gedenkstätte im Mühldorfer Hart e. V.” and organizes a prayer service with different cooperation partners every year on Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27th, always on a different topic. There are also youth education trips, workshops on Holocaust remembrance, film productions and much more. The Burghauser youth office is also considered a specialist on this topic beyond the district of Altötting.
Crimes committed by the National Socialists must not be forgotten
The history of the city of Burghausen is shown in the Burghausen City Museum. Of course, the period from 1933 to 1945 should not be missing here. An entire department is dedicated to National Socialism in Burghausen with interviews with contemporary witnesses and audio stations.
"It is important to us to keep pointing out the horrors of National Socialist tyranny. That is why there are many memorial sites in the Burghausen urban area so that the crimes of National Socialism are not forgotten. Above all, our youth work is doing a great job of educating and raising awareness among future generations," confirms Mayor Florian Schneider.
You can find more information about the memorial sites in the Burghausen urban area at www.burghausen.de/stadt/orte-des-gedendens.
