Looking back. Looking ahead. 2020-2025

FLOSSENBÜRG MEMORIAL | ALBUM 2024 41 A P R I L Anniversary of the liberation of Flossenbürg From 19 to 21 April, the 79th anniversary of the liberation of the Flossenbürg concentration camp was marked by a range of commemorative events. The Flossenbürg Memorial invited survivors, relatives of former prisoners and members of the public from around the world to remember, reflect and interact. On 21 April, guests braved the wintry weather to attend an act of remembrance that brought the commemorations to a close. The moving ceremony featured addresses by Albert Füracker, Bavarian State Minister of Finance and Homeland Affairs, and Prof. Udo Hebel, President of the University of Regensburg. The event closed with reflections from Youp Zwolschen, a third-generation descendant. The commemoration was attended by around 600 guests, including representatives from politics, the diplomatic corps, the clergy and public life. The speeches addressed the future of remembrance beyond the era of contemporary witnesses. Prof. Udo Hebel emphasised the significance of historical remembrance work in the face of current political developments. The event clearly highlighted how important it will be to keep the memory of the victims of National Socialism alive for future generations once the last contemporary witnesses are no longer with us. After the ceremony, an urn containing human ashes discovered during construction work was laid to rest in the “Valley of Death” in a small, private gathering. The urn had previously been blessed during an interreligious ceremony held in the former roll call area. Alongside the central ceremony, the three-day comme­ morative event offered an extensive programme of panel discussions and encounters, highlighting the international dimension of remembrance culture and building a bridge between the past and present.