Students and teachers from Büttgen honored with the "Memorial Award"
A Stolperstein Honours the Life of Dr. Winfried Selbiger in Kaarst
In a moving ceremony on Tuesday, the town of Kaarst paid tribute to Dr. Winfried Selbiger, a local physician who was persecuted during the Nazi era. The honour came in the form of a Stolperstein, a small, brass-plated concrete cube, embedded in the pavement in front of his former residence on the town hall square in Büttgen.
Stolpersteine, or "stumbling stones," are a poignant reminder of the atrocities committed during the Holocaust and the impact on local communities. They provide a tangible connection to the past, allowing citizens to reflect on the history of their neighbourhoods and the lives lost. By honoring individual victims, Stolpersteine humanize the vast number of victims of the Holocaust, fostering empathy and understanding among those who encounter them.
Dr. Selbiger, who lived in Büttgen, was taken into protective custody by the National Socialists at the end of October 1933 and received a professional ban. Upon his release, he decided to emigrate to save his personal freedom.
The Stolperstein in Kaarst was laid by the artist Gunter Demnig, marking the first such memorial in the city. The project was initiated by teacher Nadine Graber and supported by Kaarst city archivist Sven Woelke, historian Reinhold Mohr, and former mayor Dr. Ulrike Nienhaus.
The ceremony was held to ask for forgiveness for the suffering and persecution brought upon Büttgen during the Nazi era. Mayor Baum emphasized, "With the awarding of this honorary gift, we in Kaarst are setting a sign for remembrance and are clearly stating: Never again!" Carl-Wilhelm Bienefeld, another supporter of the project, echoed this sentiment, stating, "Never again is today."
The project, "Jewish History in Germany," was founded by Nadine Graber, Carl-Wilhelm Bienefeld, and the principal Daniel Wienold. The goal of the project is to work through the consequences of anti-Semitism over centuries. Reinhold Mohr, through his research and outstanding work on the life of Dr. Winfried Selbiger, has shown that the Nazi's inhumane actions also brought suffering and persecution to Büttgen, the place of the school.
Carl-Wilhelm Bienefeld expressed his sincere thanks to Reinhold Mohr for his work on Dr. Winfried Selbiger's life. The certificate for the school project was accepted by teachers Nadine Graber and Carl-Wilhelm Bienefeld. The Stolperstein was laid on October 20, 2022, marking a significant moment in the history of Kaarst and a powerful reminder of the past.
As the Stolperstein was laid in Kaarst, it signifies a step towards remembering and acknowledging the historical impact of the Holocaust in the community. This education-and-self-development project, "Jewish History in Germany," initiated by Nadine Graber, Carl-Wilhelm Bienefeld, and Daniel Wienold, aims to address and understand the consequences of anti-Semitism over the years, highlighting the other education-and-self-development opportunities it presents for future generations.
