Bad Rippoldsau-Schapbach (memorial)
Historical background
Anton Reinhardt was born on June 10, 1927 in the village of Weiden near Dornhan, on the edge of Schwarzwald. His mother and stepfather tried to provide children with a happy childhood and education, although the persecution of Gypsies was already a major obstacle. Anton graduated, obtained a driving license, started working in a machine factory, but on August 25, 1944 he was taken to the hospital in Waldshut, where he was to be forcibly sterilised. He managed to escape, reached Koblenz on foot, from where he crossed the Rhine to get to the Swiss border. Unfortunately, he was apprehended and deported to Germany. Although he managed to avoid prison on his return to the country, he soon found himself in the camp of Schirmeck-Vorbruck, from where he escaped again.
This time he was captured by the Volkssturm branch near Bad Rippoldsau-Schapbach, on Holy Saturday, March 31, 1945. SS-Sturmbannführer Karl Hauger hastily organised a “court”, the result of which was easy to predict. Anton Reinhardt was executed in the forest. There is a letter that he wrote to his mother before his death (“Liebe Mutter! Ich will den letzten Wunsch mitteilen, ich werde [Euch] nicht mehr sehen und wünsche gute Gesundheit und langes Leben. Gute Nacht. Anton”, which translates to: Dear Mother! I want to say one last wish, I won’t see you anymore … I wish you good health and long life. Good night … Anton “, see: http://www.sintiundroma.de/sinti-roma/ns-voelkermord/vernichtung/kriegsende/anton-reinhardt.html) FOTO!!!
Description of commemoration
At the parish cemetery in the beautiful Schwarzwald resort of Bad Rippoldsau-Schapbach, head towards the chapel. On its right (near the side entrance gate to the cemetery) is the grave of Anton Reinhardt with an inscription dedicated to him and other Gypsy victims of National Socialism.
The headstone, in the shape of an irregular rectangular slab, is placed vertically just after the water intake, at the western wall. The grave is surrounded by plants, incl. boxwood and hydrangea. The cast plaque with the inscription is embedded in a niche, which was carved in stone. The letters are raised above the surface of the headstone. The inscription is in German.
Inscriptions
In German:
Zum Gedenken an den Sinto / Anton Reinhardt. Er wurde / am Karsamstag 1945 mit / 17 Jahren von einem SS-Mann / im Wald von Bad Rippoldsau / ermordet. // Im nationalsozialistisch / besetzen Europa fielen über / 500.000 Sinti und Roma dem / Völkermord zum Opfer.
Translation:
To commemorate a Sinti, Anton Reinhardt. He was murdered on Holy Saturday in 1945, at the age of 17, by an SS man in the forest of Bad Rippoldsau.
In occupied Europe, over 500,000 Sinti and Roma fell victim to genocide.
Date of the unveiling
October 16, 2000
Initiator
The municipality of Bad Rippoldsau-Schapbach, the local parish of Saint Cyriacus
Address
Friedhof (cemetery), Bad Rippoldsau-Schapbach, 77776, Deutschland
Location
48°25’38.0″N 8°19’41.1″E
48.427221, 8.328077
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Materials
Anton Reinhardt’s biography: http://www.sintiundroma.de/sinti-roma/ns-voelkermord/vernichtung/kriegsende/anton-reinhardt.html
Gallery
