Commemoration

On July 19, 2001, the various commemoration activites began. It started with the viewing of a documentary on Plotzensee Prison, the sight of execution for thousands of Germans who resisted the tyranny of Nazi Germany. Ironically, we watched the video in the former building which served as the courthouse where the conspirators where convicted. That evening there was a reception at the Rotes Rathaus, Berlin mayor's offices, for individuals who were related to those involved with the resistance.


The Rotes Rathaus is located in former East Berlin.



Two views of the impressive entrance to the building.


The picture on the left shows the various logos of each of the different districts in Berlin. The other picture shows the actual entrance to the room where the reception was held. I hesitated to take a picture in this room as I thought it might be inappropriate.



On July 20, 2001, the first commemoration activity of the day took place at the German Resistance Memorial Center which is located in the historic section of the former headquarters of the Army High Command on Stauffenbergstrasse 13-14 (Bendlerstrasse until 1955). The rooms housing the current exhibition include the former office of Colonel Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg, the center of the attempted coup of July 20, 1944. After the coup failed and Colonel-General Ludwig Beck was forced to commit suicide, Colonel Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg, General Friedrich Olbricht, Colonel Albrecht Ritter Mertz von Quirnheim, and First Lieutenant Werner von Haeften were summarily executed by a firing squad in what is today the commemorative courtyard.


The picture on the left is Colonel Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg's office while on the right is of a room dedicated to the Kreisau Circle. On the top left are pictures of Peter Graf Yorck von Wartenburg and Helmuth James Graf von Moltke, a relative, the leaders of the Kreisau Circle. At the top are pictures of the various estates of these two families which are now part of Poland. The Moltke estate, Kreisau, is now a youth center whose purpose is to advocate worldwide understanding and peace.


These are pictures of the courtyard of the resistance center. The picture of the right is the exact locale where the executions took place.


The actual plaque commemorating the deaths of these five men.


These are more pictures of the ceremony. The placement of the wreath was done by Justice Minister Mrs. Dauber-Gmelin. I spoke to her later in the day.


With every national event there is a military presence. It is interesting to note that the last event of the day, which I opted not to attend, was the swearing in of new military recruits into the armed forces. This has been met by much opposition and demonstrations as many Germans feel it is inappropriate to have such an event on a day of mourning for Nazi resistance.



At 4:00, July 20, 2001, a memorial service was held at Plotzensee Prison. The Plotzensee Memorial Center commemorating the victims of National Socialism is a site of quiet remembrance. From 1933 to 1945, nearly three thousand people unjustly sentenced to death by the National Socialist judiciary were executed here. Today, the execution chamber is a memorial. The exhibition in the room adjoining it documents the practice of the National Socialist judicial and penal system.


These are pictures of the actual service. The new mayor of Berlin, Klaus Wowereit spoke during the commemoration.


The placement of the memorial wreaths.


The execution chamber of Plotzensee Prison. Field Marschall von Witzleben, Colonel-General Hoeper, Major-General Stieff, Lieutenant von Hagen, Lieutenant-General von Hase, Lieutenant-Colonel Bernardis, Captain Klausing and Peter Yorck von Wartenburg were the first eight members of the resistance to be tried on August 7th and 8th. They were executed by hanging on August 8th at Plotzensee Prison.




I felt the most emotion and pride while I was watching the documentary of Plotzensee Prison on Thursday, July 19, 2001. In the documentary there was a clip of Peter Yorck von Wartenburg being led into the courtroom of Nazi judge Roland Freisler. Also in the clip was an exchange between Peter Yorck von Wartenburg and the judge. Many state that the former displayed the most courage of all of the defendents and didn't ask for mercy. I have enclosed the exchange: