Memory in Cologne: SC Janus laid stumbling blocks for Holocaust victims

Memory in Cologne: SC Janus laid stumbling blocks for Holocaust victims

Neustadt-Süd, Deutschland - A very special event took place in Cologne Südstadt. Terry Mandel, a 71-year-old woman from Berkeley, California, who sees Cologne as her second home, was a guest to commemorate the laying of stumbling blocks. This plaque is reminiscent of the Wolf Jewish family, which was deported during National Socialism. The Wolf family, which also included Martha and Artur Wolf and their son Fritz, once lived in the city and was deported to the Kulmhof extermination camp in 1941. Artur Wolf was murdered in the Ghetto Litzmannstadt, while Martha and Fritz also lost their lives three months later.

Terry Mandel, whose mother Ingelore Silberbach was related to the Wolf family, has been deeply connected to Cologne since her first trip in October 2022. She lived in the city during this time and even bought a bike to explore the Cologne surroundings. Today she built a circle of friends in Cologne and is a member of the Jewish Carnivalists "Kölsche Kippa-Köpp". Her commitment even extended so far that in 2023 she founded the "The Unasasure Project", which is committed to exclusion and hatred and preserves the history of her family.

stumbling blocks as part of the culture of memory

The stumbling blocks that have been laid by the artist Gunter Demnig since the 1990s are a very special memorial. In Cologne, over 2,400 of these small plaques that are installed in places have already been installed where people lived who lived by the Nazi regime before fleeing or arrest. This initiative is known far beyond the city limits and has shaped the intelligence landscape in Germany. In the southern part of the city, the new stumbling blocks were accompanied musically by Fabienne Carlier on the accordion, which gave the ceremony a special note.

"We must not forget the story," emphasized Terry Mandel during her speech. These words apply not only to the Wolf family, but also all victims of National Socialism - including Jews, Sinti and Roma, politically persecuted, homosexuals and many more who suffered in this dark time.

commitment to discrimination

The Queere Sportverein SC Janus has sponsored these stumbling blocks. The club celebrates its 45th anniversary this year and offers around 45 sports. With his initiative, he creates a sign against exclusion and persecution. Gregor Timmer, the head of the sports office, congratulated the association for his commitment and found how important such actions are for society. This shows that you actively stand against discrimination and agitation.

Another milestone will be reached on July 1, 2025 in Cologne: A German offshoot of the "unasidur project" is founded there in order to set a sign of reminiscent in Germany. Terry Mandel is optimistic and hopes that their history as well as that of their family and other victims will continue to be heard.

summarized: The stumbling block in Cologne once again illustrates how important it is to deal with your own history and learn from it. The memorial plates stand not only for the past, but also for the responsibility we bear for the future.

For more information about the stumbling blocks in Cologne and their backgrounds, there are detailed information on the website of the city of Cologne and Gunter Demnig's project, which aims to keep the memory of the victims alive. You can find more about this here: City of Cologne and Deutschlandfunk .