Barth – On 27 January 2026, a commemorative event was held in Barth to mark the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of National Socialism and focused on reflection and responsibility for the future. The event was organised in cooperation between the DOK Association Barth and Barth Secondary School Centre. Most of the guests were school students, accompanied by their teachers. Also attending were District Administrator Dr. Stefan Kerth, City President Andi Wallis, and Mayor Friedrich-Carl Hellwig.
The young people were at the centre of the event and shaped the programme in their own unique way. Following the opening address by Christiane Schuldt and the District Administrator’s inspiring words, a student took the floor to share her reflections on the significance of this date and to express her concerns about the future. She concluded her speech with a clear appeal, emphasising in particular that young people have a responsibility to help shape the future.
Afterwards, several school students shared their reflections on this day of remembrance. They presented their experiences from a study trip to the Auschwitz Memorial. In their own words, they described their impressions of the historic site, which, like few others, stands as a testament to the systematic extermination of millions of persecuted people by the Nazi regime. Their accounts reflected on how confronting the traces of the Holocaust had affected them and conveyed their emotional responses to the entire audience.
These accounts were complemented by literary and musical performances. School students recited the poems “O die Schornsteine” by Nelly Sachs (Oh-the-chimneys) and “Sch’ma” by Primo Levi, two powerful works that lent the event literary depth as well as a personal and universal dimension. Musically, the event was accompanied by harp melodies and piano pieces. In addition, the student choir sang two songs, including “Die Moorsoldaten” (the bog soldiers) and “Die Gedanken sind frei” (Our thoughts are free), whose lyrics reflect on the period of National Socialism. The music created a dignified setting and underscored the atmosphere of shared reflection.
Given the increasing passage of time and the dwindling number of eyewitnesses, an active culture of remembrance among younger generations is becoming ever more significant. The event made it clear that remembrance is also close to the hearts of young people and represents a responsibility for both the present and the future. The students’ commitment demonstrated how important it is to keep history alive and to stand against forgetting, so that we may look towards a more just and peaceful future.
Stella Menge
Senior school student at Barth Secondary School