Düsseldorf: Installation "missing link_" becomes a permanent memorial

Commemoration of the victims of the Nazi era

The installation "missing link_" by artist Gunter Demnig is to become a permanent memorial in Düsseldorf. The decision was made by the city council on Wednesday. The installation consists of 116 brass plates that were laid in the pavement in front of the former Düsseldorf Gestapo headquarters on Bastionstrasse in 2014. The plates bear the names of people who were deported from Düsseldorf to concentration camps during the Nazi era.

The installation was originally intended to be temporary, but has since become a popular memorial site. In 2017, the city council decided to extend the installation's stay until 2024. With the new decision, the installation will now become a permanent part of Düsseldorf's cityscape.

"The 'missing link_' installation is an important reminder of the victims of the Nazi era," said Mayor Stephan Keller. "It is a place where people can come to remember and mourn, and to learn about the history of our city."

The artist Gunter Demnig has created similar installations in over 1,200 cities across Europe. The installations have become a powerful symbol of the fight against fascism and racism.

Background information on the Nazi era in Düsseldorf

Düsseldorf was one of the first cities in Germany to fall under Nazi control. The Nazis came to power in Düsseldorf in 1933, and quickly began to implement their policies of persecution and discrimination.

One of the first targets of the Nazis was the Jewish population of Düsseldorf. In 1938, the Nazis organized the Kristallnacht pogrom, during which Jewish businesses and homes were destroyed and Jewish people were attacked.

After Kristallnacht, the Nazis began to deport Jewish people from Düsseldorf to concentration camps. The first deportation took place in October 1941, and by the end of the war, over 1,000 Jewish people had been deported from Düsseldorf to camps such as Auschwitz and Theresienstadt.

The Nazis also targeted other groups of people in Düsseldorf, including Roma, homosexuals, and political dissidents. These groups were also persecuted and discriminated against, and many were deported to concentration camps.

The Nazi era was a dark chapter in Düsseldorf's history. The installation "missing link_" serves as a reminder of the victims of this period, and of the importance of fighting against fascism and racism.

What can you do to help commemorate the victims of the Nazi era?

There are many things you can do to help commemorate the victims of the Nazi era. Here are a few ideas:

• Visit the "missing link_" installation in Düsseldorf and learn about the history of the Nazi era in the city.
• Attend events and exhibitions that commemorate the victims of the Nazi era.
• Support organizations that work to fight fascism and racism.
• Educate yourself and others about the Holocaust and other genocides.
• Speak out against hate speech and discrimination.

By taking these actions, you can help to ensure that the victims of the Nazi era are never forgotten, and that the fight against fascism and racism continues.