Remembering the past - Rehlingen-Siersburg

In October 1940, the Nazis deported around 6500 Jewish citizens from Baden, the present day Rheinland-Palatinate and what is now the Saarland area to an internment camp in Gurs, located in South West France at the foot of the Pyrenees mountains (not too far from Lourdes). Six of these Jewish citizens were inhabitants of the then independent community of Siersburg. Around half of those deported did not survive the first winter in the wooden barracks at this scene of horror. The Rehlingen-Siersburg community wants to establish a place of remembrance as a memory to these former Siersburg citizens and representative of all other victims of National Socialism. You will be helping to establish this place of remembrance, by preparing the necessary surfaces, handling stones from the Pyrenees and setting up stone blocks, and planting small trees and bushes. In the middle of the memorial site there will be a rose bush planted as a symbol of hope. Besides this, part of the camp will include a topical discussion on anti-Semitism and racism in daily life. The local Jewish community will also be involved in this discussion, and guided tours to the synagogue in Saarbrücken as well as visits to other local memorial sites are also possible.