Speech of Ambassador Dr Thomas Götz
Holocaust Remembrance Event
Helsinki
27 January, 2014
Ladies and gentlemen,
Today we remember the unspeakable suffering and death of six
million European Jews, of more than 500.000 Sinti and Roma,
also of disabled and sick persons, as well as of people, who had
been persecuted because of political, religious and other reasons,
and the death of many others, who were tortured and murdered
by the National Socialists.
It was planned, organized and executed by Germans and
Germany bears the moral responsibility, the responsibility before
history for this crime against humanity.
It fills us with deep sadness and shame and always will.
I bow my head before the victims, the few survivors and their
families.
Since the founding of the Federal Republic of Germany it has
been a major concern of every German government to develop a
culture of remembrance. More than 2000 places of remembrance
in Germany - on the local, regional and federal level - tell many
different stories and reflect on the Holocaust.
But even more important than places of remembrance are the
survivors, people who can and would tell the story of their lives
and their sufferings in order to keep it alive in the memories of
other people and share their memories with us, particularly with
the younger generations.
Last year, Ms. Esther Bauer, who lost her family in
Theresienstadt and Auschwitz and only by chance survived
herself, visited the German School Helsinki to share her story
with the pupils. Her courage, her warmth and humanity
impressed the students extraordinarily, greatly deepening their
understanding of human dignity, freedom and democracy.
Today, almost 70 years after the end of WW II, Jewish
communities are again well established in Germany. There are
around 240.000 Jewish citizens mainly immigrants from the
former Soviet Union. This is the third biggest Jewish Community
in Europe. We are grateful that in Germany despite of the
Holocaust it has become normal again to grow up with Jewish
neighbours and friends and to experience Jewish life in our
vicinity. We are grateful that Germans and Jews have succeeded
in starting over again while keeping the memory of the Holocaust
alive.
Germans want to make sure that their past will not be forgotten.
The atrocities that were committed by Germans and in the name
of Germany under the Nazi regime will always remain a part of
our present, and the lessons we had to learn from the past have
become part of our national identity.
Do not forget the past is a message I would particularly like to
emphasize and convey for wider consideration, because even after
the horrors of Auschwitz attempts have been made to extinguish
people in many parts of the world: in Cambodia, Ruanda, in
Darfur, in Bosnia and elsewhere.
Therefore, at the end of my remarks, let me share with you same
thoughts by Elie Wiesel, Romanian born author and survivor of
Auschwitz and Buchenwald, who was awarded the Nobel Peace
Prize in 1986, he said – and I quote
“I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings
endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides.
Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence
encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”
With this message in mind I would like to thank you for your
attention.