Safety first: Bergen-Belsen Memorial is being renovated!

Safety first: Bergen-Belsen Memorial is being renovated!

In a significant initiative, the Bergen-Belsen Memorial will be comprehensively renovated to ensure the safety of visitors and the integrity of the historic site. According to NDR, the project will cost around 3.6 million euros and will take around two years. Work will begin shortly and aims to modernize the buildings, which are in dire need of renovation, while at the same time implementing innovative security measures.

What exactly is on the agenda for the renovation work? The measures include the renovation of the building facades as well as new insulation and modern windows. In addition, the technical equipment, including the lighting, will be brought up to date - and the whole thing will also be energy-saving. A particularly urgent concern is the replacement of the severely damaged flat roofs, which have posed a danger for some time.

Security measures and threats

The implementation of security measures is particularly important. These are intended not only to prevent unauthorized access to internal areas, but also to consistently separate public areas from privately used zones. The background to these measures is the recurring threat from right-wing extremist groups. There was recently an incident in which a neo-Nazi posted photos at the memorial and made Holocaust-relative statements on social media. Another incident that highlights the need for such measures was the vandalism at the Ahlem Memorial, in which flower wreaths were destroyed on Holocaust Remembrance Day. The public prosecutor then filed charges against a 26-year-old right-wing extremist.

The history of Bergen-Belsen is marked by unimaginable suffering. Originally built as a prisoner of war camp in 1940, it was converted into a concentration camp in 1943. Throughout its history, the camp housed more than 120,000 prisoners, including Jews, Poles and many other nationalities. Around 70,000 people died due to overcrowding, lack of food and unsanitary conditions. The liberation by British troops took place on April 15, 1945, when around 60,000 prisoners suffering from hunger and disease were discovered in the heavily overcrowded barracks. These historical events are not just memories, but continue to require our attention and commitment through constant educational offerings and forms of commemoration.

A place of remembrance and education

After the war, Bergen-Belsen was set up as a memorial with the mission of honoring the victims of the Holocaust and educating society about the terrible crimes of the Nazi era. There have been numerous transformations of the site to meet the needs of visitors and to highlight the historical significance of the site. Now, with the impending renovation, the memorial will not only be transformed on the outside, but will also provide security in a central location while it continues its important educational work.

The Bergen-Belsen Memorial will remain open to visitors during the construction work, so that remembering and learning will not be neglected during this time. It is crucial that as a society we do not forget the lessons of history and support places like this that keep memories alive.

For more information about the redevelopment plans and history of Bergen-Belsen, visit the following links: NDR and Wikipedia.