After 15 months of building a festive opening. The new Memorial Centre Ahlem is open to the public from today (July 25th) on. Regional President, Hauke Jagau, Architect Roger Ahrens, Barbara Traub from the Central Committee of the Jews in Germany, and Manfred Böhmer from the Association of the Sintis of Lower Saxony cut the ribbon to declare the Centre open. There were also 400 guests present from Germany and abroad, who were then invited to a tour of the new exhibition rooms and the outer areas.
Stefan Schostok, Lord Mayor of the State capital city of Hannover, Barbara Traub from the Central Committee of the Jews in Germany, and Manfred Böhmer from the Sintis of Lower Saxony were the official speakers. The Historian, Prof. Dr. Peter Longerich, shared his thoughts to the new opening in his talk about “History and Remembrance”. The festive reception with kosher food was underlined with music by Andor Izsak, Gitanes Blondes, Di Finkelstein Kapelye, and Bogdan Dragus. A delegation, which included the Counselor Moti Dotan of Lower Galilea, the partner region of the Region of Hannover, was also present.
The Memorial Centre Ahlem shall be a place to remember the 2,946 persons, who passed through Ahlem, a station on their way to death. “It shall be a learning and information area outside of the schools, for the growing and future generations”, said Hauke Jagau, Regional President, at the opening ceremonies. “What happened during the time of the NS Government should not be pushed aside or forgotten. It must serve as a warning in the consciousness of future generations,” said Lord Mayor Stefan Schostok. “This Memorial Centre can be mentioned on the same level with the “Braunhaus” in Munich, the “EL-DE-Haus” in Cologne, or institutions such as the Centre d´Historie de la Resistance et de la Deportation (CHRD) in Lyon”, said Barbara Traub from the Central Committee of the Jews in Germany.
Speakers at the opening ceremony were also Gerda Steinfeld and Ernest Wertheim, both survivors and witnesses. Until she was deported to the Concentration camp in Theresienstadt in June 1932, Gerda Steinfeld went to school in Ahlem from winter 1941 until it was closed in Summer 1942. After her liberation from the Concentration camp, she returned to Hannover and experienced the establishment of the Kibbutz “Zur Befreiung” on the grounds. In the 1950s, Gerda Steinfeld emigrated to Israel where she still lives.
Ernest Wertheim was an apprentice in the Jewish Horticultural School from 1934 to 1937. This has characterized his professional life. He emigrated to the USA where he made a successful carrier in horticulture. Ernest Wertheim is known as the “Inventor of the Garden Centre” and gives lectures world wide on horticulture and his life.
THE NEW MEMORIAL CENTRE
On the grounds of the former Jewish Horticultural School a new Information-, Study- and Memorial Centre has been erected, and its radius and influence extends far beyond the borders of the Region of Hannover. The particularity of this place is that it combines Jewish culture and hope as well as crime and destruction: from 1893 onwards, Jewish youth were taught horticulture and various trades in the Heisterbergallee. Then, the Nazis came in 1941 and misused the buildings as a collection centre for deportation. From 1943, there was torture – later murders – in the “Police Substitute Prison” for forced laborers, political prisoners, Sinti and Roma – this was the bloody daily life they experienced. The new Memorial Centre looks at both sides of the picture.
RECONSTRUCTION AND NEW ORGANISATION
For the new organization of the Memorial Centre there was a general European competition. This was won by the Group Ahrens Grabenhorst Architects, IKON Exhibition Organization, and Landscape Architect Marcus Cordes (chora blau). “We found it important to include the moving History of the Horticultural School in the Architecture”, said architect Roger Ahrens. So, according to his plans, the Director´s House in the Heisterbergallee was cored and remodeled.
A new entrance hall has been designed, and with its glass Foyer gives a clear view to the outside. This has been remodeled to represent the old school garden. It was planned by landscape architect Marcus Cordes, for whom it was important to show the history and ambivalence of the site. A path parallel to the Heisterbergallee connects the various areas of the Document and Memorial Centre.
During the reconstruction work, old wall paintings were discovered, which were then reconstructed according to old patterns. “This surprising treasure was something we wanted to keep,” said Stefanie Burmeister, Manager of the Memorial Centre. Also, on the 2nd floor columns were discovered which were integrated into the new conception for the rooms.
The total costs for the reconstruction of the Memorial Centre Ahlem amounts to about 6.3 million Euros. This was paid by the Region of Hannover. Promoters and patrons of the reconstruction are the “Förderverein der Gedenkstätte Ahlem e. V.“, the “Sparkasse Hannover“, the “Land Niedersachsen“, the “enercity-Fonds proKlima“, the “Stiftung Niedersachsen“, the “Landwirtschaftskammer Niedersachsen“, as well as the “Klosterkammer Hannover”.
EXHIBITION AND EDUCATIONAL CONCEPT:
A team of historians, political scientists, and educators, together with the firm IKON put together a new exhibition concept. Martina Scheitenberger, responsible for the realization: “The exhibition architecture shows the various aspects of the horticultural school.” The walls are painted pale blue and beige, and on them are presented texts, photos and screens. Here the interviews with witnesses and survivors can be seen.
On the 1st floor the focus is on the persecution and separation during the NS period in Ahlem. The 2nd floor is dedicated to the German-Jewish life of the founder of the school, Moritz Simon. This area shows the History from 1893 to 1942 and after the liberation in 1945. In the attic area there are modern classrooms. On the bottom floor there is a room for readings, special exhibitions and talks with witnesses/survivors. On the ground floor there is a “Mediathek.”
“We hope to have interested and curious visitors to whom we can present our documents through modern media”, says Stefanie Burmeister. “Question, Discover, Understand” – that is the motto of the educational program, which will include not only short tours, but also longer study periods. A team of educators will be available for the guidance of school classes and groups, beginning with the school year 2014/2015.
OPENING TIMES OF THE MEMORIAL CENTRE
The Memorial Centre is open to the public on Tuesday and Wednesday, 10-17 Hrs., Thursday, 10-19 Hrs., Friday, 10-14 Hrs., Sunday, 11 – 17 Hrs.
More information: www.gedenkstaette-ahlem.de
Stefan Schostok, Lord Mayor of the State capital city of Hannover, Barbara Traub from the Central Committee of the Jews in Germany, and Manfred Böhmer from the Sintis of Lower Saxony were the official speakers. The Historian, Prof. Dr. Peter Longerich, shared his thoughts to the new opening in his talk about “History and Remembrance”. The festive reception with kosher food was underlined with music by Andor Izsak, Gitanes Blondes, Di Finkelstein Kapelye, and Bogdan Dragus. A delegation, which included the Counselor Moti Dotan of Lower Galilea, the partner region of the Region of Hannover, was also present.
The Memorial Centre Ahlem shall be a place to remember the 2,946 persons, who passed through Ahlem, a station on their way to death. “It shall be a learning and information area outside of the schools, for the growing and future generations”, said Hauke Jagau, Regional President, at the opening ceremonies. “What happened during the time of the NS Government should not be pushed aside or forgotten. It must serve as a warning in the consciousness of future generations,” said Lord Mayor Stefan Schostok. “This Memorial Centre can be mentioned on the same level with the “Braunhaus” in Munich, the “EL-DE-Haus” in Cologne, or institutions such as the Centre d´Historie de la Resistance et de la Deportation (CHRD) in Lyon”, said Barbara Traub from the Central Committee of the Jews in Germany.
Speakers at the opening ceremony were also Gerda Steinfeld and Ernest Wertheim, both survivors and witnesses. Until she was deported to the Concentration camp in Theresienstadt in June 1932, Gerda Steinfeld went to school in Ahlem from winter 1941 until it was closed in Summer 1942. After her liberation from the Concentration camp, she returned to Hannover and experienced the establishment of the Kibbutz “Zur Befreiung” on the grounds. In the 1950s, Gerda Steinfeld emigrated to Israel where she still lives.
Ernest Wertheim was an apprentice in the Jewish Horticultural School from 1934 to 1937. This has characterized his professional life. He emigrated to the USA where he made a successful carrier in horticulture. Ernest Wertheim is known as the “Inventor of the Garden Centre” and gives lectures world wide on horticulture and his life.
THE NEW MEMORIAL CENTRE
On the grounds of the former Jewish Horticultural School a new Information-, Study- and Memorial Centre has been erected, and its radius and influence extends far beyond the borders of the Region of Hannover. The particularity of this place is that it combines Jewish culture and hope as well as crime and destruction: from 1893 onwards, Jewish youth were taught horticulture and various trades in the Heisterbergallee. Then, the Nazis came in 1941 and misused the buildings as a collection centre for deportation. From 1943, there was torture – later murders – in the “Police Substitute Prison” for forced laborers, political prisoners, Sinti and Roma – this was the bloody daily life they experienced. The new Memorial Centre looks at both sides of the picture.
RECONSTRUCTION AND NEW ORGANISATION
For the new organization of the Memorial Centre there was a general European competition. This was won by the Group Ahrens Grabenhorst Architects, IKON Exhibition Organization, and Landscape Architect Marcus Cordes (chora blau). “We found it important to include the moving History of the Horticultural School in the Architecture”, said architect Roger Ahrens. So, according to his plans, the Director´s House in the Heisterbergallee was cored and remodeled.
A new entrance hall has been designed, and with its glass Foyer gives a clear view to the outside. This has been remodeled to represent the old school garden. It was planned by landscape architect Marcus Cordes, for whom it was important to show the history and ambivalence of the site. A path parallel to the Heisterbergallee connects the various areas of the Document and Memorial Centre.
During the reconstruction work, old wall paintings were discovered, which were then reconstructed according to old patterns. “This surprising treasure was something we wanted to keep,” said Stefanie Burmeister, Manager of the Memorial Centre. Also, on the 2nd floor columns were discovered which were integrated into the new conception for the rooms.
The total costs for the reconstruction of the Memorial Centre Ahlem amounts to about 6.3 million Euros. This was paid by the Region of Hannover. Promoters and patrons of the reconstruction are the “Förderverein der Gedenkstätte Ahlem e. V.“, the “Sparkasse Hannover“, the “Land Niedersachsen“, the “enercity-Fonds proKlima“, the “Stiftung Niedersachsen“, the “Landwirtschaftskammer Niedersachsen“, as well as the “Klosterkammer Hannover”.
EXHIBITION AND EDUCATIONAL CONCEPT:
A team of historians, political scientists, and educators, together with the firm IKON put together a new exhibition concept. Martina Scheitenberger, responsible for the realization: “The exhibition architecture shows the various aspects of the horticultural school.” The walls are painted pale blue and beige, and on them are presented texts, photos and screens. Here the interviews with witnesses and survivors can be seen.
On the 1st floor the focus is on the persecution and separation during the NS period in Ahlem. The 2nd floor is dedicated to the German-Jewish life of the founder of the school, Moritz Simon. This area shows the History from 1893 to 1942 and after the liberation in 1945. In the attic area there are modern classrooms. On the bottom floor there is a room for readings, special exhibitions and talks with witnesses/survivors. On the ground floor there is a “Mediathek.”
“We hope to have interested and curious visitors to whom we can present our documents through modern media”, says Stefanie Burmeister. “Question, Discover, Understand” – that is the motto of the educational program, which will include not only short tours, but also longer study periods. A team of educators will be available for the guidance of school classes and groups, beginning with the school year 2014/2015.
OPENING TIMES OF THE MEMORIAL CENTRE
The Memorial Centre is open to the public on Tuesday and Wednesday, 10-17 Hrs., Thursday, 10-19 Hrs., Friday, 10-14 Hrs., Sunday, 11 – 17 Hrs.
More information: www.gedenkstaette-ahlem.de
