On the ninth of November


Today is November 9, 2022, a day that evokes many emotions and memories in Germany. A day that we cannot forget and should not forget.

And yet, for many of us, November 9, 1848, is a long-forgotten history lesson. On that day, Robert Blum, one of the leaders of the 1848 Revolution was executed.

On November 9, 1918, Philipp Scheidemann proclaimed the first German Republic, and the monarchy was abolished. Germany became a parliamentary democratic republic. This also meant the end of the First World War.

On November 9, 1923, Hitler failed with his coup in Munich. Unfortunately, he still managed to seize power ten years later.

November 9, 1938, is known as the Reichspogromnacht, when Jewish stores and synagogues were set on fire and Jews were murdered, which heralded the persecution and murder of European Jews.

November 9, 1989, then finally is a day of joy, when the Berlin Wall fell, leading to the reunification of Germany one year later.

Since in our dates, we are used to writing the day first and the month after that, we could also say that November 9 is our 9/11. This term is of course burned into our memory because of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Every year, the bell tolls to commemorate each victim.

In Germany, on November 9 we commemorate the attacks on Jewish stores and synagogues 84 years ago. But that day was only the beginning of the Shoah. In the end, 6 million Jews were murdered. We commemorate Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27, when we mourn the victims, but it became apparent on November 9 what was to come. That is why it is important that on this and every other November 9, we remember how it all once began, and what became of it.

Perhaps seeing small brass memorial plaques, so-called Stolpersteine, on the sidewalk will help us to remember the fate of our fellow citizens of Jewish origin not only on certain memorial days. We are reminded that Jewish people lived here and were part of our society until they were unlawfully expelled, deported, and murdered. This should never happen again. But words are not enough. We must work to ensure that it really does not happen again.



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