Scandal surrounding Binzer Photo: Remembrance work meets the dark past

Scandal surrounding Binzer Photo: Remembrance work meets the dark past

In the last few days, a reposted photo on the official Instagram channel of the seaside resort of Binz in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has caused glee and outrage. What could be behind a seemingly harmless historical image? A few days ago a black and white photo from 1938 was shared showing Binz Bay. But bad things happened during this time that remind the community today of its historical context. In fact, in the course of Aryanization, numerous Jewish spa house operators in Binz were forcibly expropriated, just a few months before the devastating events of the November pogroms, in which many Jews were disenfranchised and murdered.

The community's short-term response to this faux pas was a public apology. The publication of the picture was described as a “bad and unfortunate mishap”. The image was deleted immediately after the outcry, but it sparked discussion about the culture of remembrance in the region.

A place with an important past

The community of Binz is actively concerned with the past of the island of Rügen, especially with regard to the Nazi era. Prora, the place where the National Socialist regime wanted to build an impressive holiday resort, is particularly relevant in this context. Planned by the organization “Strength through Joy”, Prora was originally intended to serve as a recreational resort for 20,000 people, but construction work was stopped in 1939 with the outbreak of the Second World War. Today the complex is a place for examining its history.

Instead, after the war, Prora was used by the Soviet Union and later by the National People's Army (NVA). This meant that the impressive complex remained a restricted area for decades. Only after reunification did the site become publicly accessible in 1993 and has been a listed building since 1994. Today, despite its burdened history, Prora is increasingly attracting tourists who are interested in this historic place.

A new approach to memory

In order to actively promote the confrontation with this difficult past, the community is planning a new museum of remembrance culture. The connection of the historical context with contemporary communication is important. In addition, the existing documentation center in Prora is to be revitalized in order to bring the history and the lessons from it closer to a wider audience.

To further promote the memory of the victims of the Holocaust, Yad Vashem's Virtual Wall of Remembrance was also launched. Here over 80,000 people from Germany can remember the victims and share their stories. Such initiatives are essential to create a well-founded and respectful culture of remembrance.

And what about the German culture of remembrance? On January 27, 2025, the International Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Holocaust will be celebrated again in Berlin. Such commemorations are much more than just events; they help maintain educational dialogues about our past and remind us that coming to terms with our own history is never finished. The task remains, especially for future generations, not to let the lessons of the past be forgotten and to work to ensure that such a catastrophe does not happen again.