Jena (plaque)
Historical background
The first metal plaque was installed at the Jena West Railway Station in 1988. In 1990 it was replaced by a new one, made of stone. The inscription remained the same, but the words ‘Roma und’ were added.
Description of commemoration
A white granite memorial plaque is embedded on a brick wall at the historical Jena West Railway Station, close to the platforms. According to the inscription on the plaque, local city residents persecuted for racial reasons were deported to concentration camps from this place.
The plaque has a sandblasted and inscription painted black in German. In both upper corners there are symbols: on the left the star of David with a stylised Gothic-style letter “J” (Juden) in the middle, and on the right an inverted triangle with the letter “Z” inside (Zigeuner; symbol used to mark Gypsies in concentration camps) . Between them there is information about time range: 1933-1945, and below the dedication incipit “Zum Gedenken” (“In Memory …”).
The plaque is placed on a column that supports two arches above the two entrances from the platform to the station building. Below it, there is a block of hewn sandstone, intended for flowers, wreaths and candles.
Inscriptions
In German:
1933-1945 // Zum Gedenken / an unsere Jenaer Mitbürger, / die rassisch verfolgten / Juden, Roma und Sinti, / die von hier aus in die / faschistischen Todeslager / deportiert wurden.
Translation:
1933-1945. In memory of our fellow residents of Jena, Jews, Roma and Sinti, who for racial reasons were deported from here to fascist death camps.
Date of the unveiling
1988 / 1990
Initiator
Jenaer Kulturbund (citizens of the city of Jena, including church groups engaged in the city’s cultural activities)
Address
West West Railway Station – close to the platforms
Westbahnhofstraße 13, 07745 Jena, Germany
Location
50°55’23.5″N 11°34’41.4″E
50.923180, 11.578178
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Materials
Endlich, Stefanie/Goldenbogen, Nora/u. a.: Gedenkstätten für die Opfer des Nationalsozialismus. Eine Dokumentation, Band II, Bonn 1999, S. 839.
http://gedenkorte.sintiundroma.de/index.php?ortID=40
Gallery
