Commemorative event in Uelsen: "Never again" is now!
29.01.2025 Town hall & politics
January 27, 2025 marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration and extermination camp. To mark the occasion, the municipality of Uelsen and the Working Group of Christian Churches invited people to a commemorative event in the Old Reformed parish hall. Around 100 people took part - more than ever before.
Right at the beginning of the event, it became clear that "Never again!" is not just a reminder of the past, but a call to action in the present. In view of the rise of right-wing extremist tendencies and anti-democratic movements, it became clear: "Never again" is now!
Remembering, vigilance and taking responsibility
In his speech, Mayor Wilfried Segger recalled the approximately six million Jewish victims of the Nazi regime and emphasized: "Remembering means giving the victims back a voice and a piece of their dignity. But it is not enough to remember - we must also take responsibility." He warned against the mechanisms used by totalitarian regimes to win people over and noted parallels to the present day: "We must all take responsibility through our remembrance and active vigilance - as individuals, as a community and as a society."
Segger also didn't mince his words when it came to the political dimension: "The fact that Nazis, extremists and fascists are in the AfD alone must be a reason not to vote for this party, even if you could agree with individual points of the election program." There was loud applause from the audience for these clear words.
"Now it's our turn!" - A call to action
Pastor Anne Noll symbolically wore a pink "Grafschaft zeigt Gesicht" sweater for her speech. She emphasized that democracy and freedom are not self-evident: "Now it's our turn - we have to make sure that Germany never again causes such a disaster." She made it clear that Christianity and exclusion are not compatible: "No one who believes in Jesus Christ can vote for a party that marginalizes people." Her appeal: "Let us also be courageous, talk to each other and welcome those who come to us for help."
The event was accompanied musically by guitarist Ali Jacobs, who performed the well-known "Song of the Moor Soldiers" - a song written by prisoners in the Börgermoor concentration camp in 1933.
The large turnout and the impressive speeches made it clear that remembering the crimes of the Nazi era is not just a duty, but a necessity. "Never again" is today - and it is up to all of us to bring these words to life.