Gießen honours 15 Sinti and Jewish victims deported to Auschwitz 83 years ago
A commemorative ceremony will honour the 15 Sinti and Jewish residents of Gießen deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1943. The main event, held on Monday, March 16, 2026, marks the 83rd anniversary of their forced removal under the Nazi regime. Flowers will be placed at the town's monument in their memory.
The event begins at 5:00 PM at Hermann Levi Hall in Gießen Town Hall. Lord Mayor Frank-Tilo Becher will open the gathering with welcoming remarks before reading aloud the names of those deported.
The evening will feature prayers led by Benjamin Weiß of the Catholic Church and Dr. Gabriel Brand of the Protestant Church. Their reflections will be followed by a keynote address from Rinaldo Strauß, representing the Hessian State Association of the German Sinti and Roma. His speech, titled 'Remembering the Genocide: Between Memory and Responsibility', will focus on the historical and moral weight of the deportations.
Musical performances by Georgi Kalaidjiev, Janika Epe, Marco Konrad, and Sabine Schmidt will accompany the programme. After the event, attendees will gather at the monument on Berliner Platz. There, participants will lay flowers in tribute to all victims and persecuted individuals of the Nazi era.
The monument stands as a lasting reminder of Gießen's lost Sinti and Jewish citizens. While exact figures for deportations from the city remain undocumented, the event ensures their stories are not forgotten.
The ceremony closes with a collective moment of remembrance at the monument. Names of the deported will be heard again, reinforcing the city's commitment to preserving their legacy. The gathering also serves as a call to reflect on the broader consequences of persecution during National Socialism.
