After a welcome and introductory words by the mayor of the joint municipality, Günter Oldekamp, a lecture was given by historian Christa Pfeifer from the Günter Frank House Association. In her impressive lecture, Mrs Pfeifer used a presentation and film clips from the Nazi era to talk about the 60 million people who died during the Second World War. She also spoke about the mass murder of more than thirteen million people by the Nazi regime, including six million Jews and 3.3 million Soviet prisoners of war. "It happened, and therefore it can happen again: Therein lies the core of what we have to say", according to a quote by Auschwitz survivor Primo Levi.
The culture of remembrance in Neuenhaus is important, according to joint municipal mayor Günter Oldekamp. We as a society must take a stand when hate slogans are chanted. We must show solidarity when minorities are attacked and stand up for values that make our society strong, such as tolerance, respect and humanity.
The event was rounded off with contributions from the Niedergrafschaft music school.