With this "Alliance of the Generations", the private sponsors of the exhibition in the "Train of Commemoration" are extending their activities. Between November 2007 and June 2008 the train had stopped in 70 stations in Germany and in Poland. About 240.000 people visited the wagons exhibiting the biographies of deported children and youth from all over Europe. It is estimated that 1.5 million young people were deported with the "Deutsche Reichsbahn" as victims of the Nazi race and war policy. Only few returned from the concentration and extermination camps.
Not Used
The "Train of Commemoration" drew wide attention both inside Germany and around the world, due to the fact that the historical heirs of the "Deutsche Reichsbahn" had refused to permit the use of their facilities without financial constraints.[1] At several stations the stopover was either thwarted or made more difficult, for example at the Central Station in Berlin. As the private initiators have just made known, they have so far been forced to pay the Deutsche Bahn AG nearly 100,000 Euros, including 45 Euros per hour of commemoration on the tracks. This is for the track system that had belonged to the "Deutsche Reichsbahn" and been used for their deportation routes. Up to now, the successor of the "Deutsche Reichsbahn" has refused to waive the fees or make a corresponding donation. The Minister of Transportation, who is responsible for this state enterprise, could order a reimbursement, but he has not used this prerogative in spite of numerous pleas.
Intensified
The German railroad managers' ignorance and the "wait-and-see" attitude of official state administrators have confirmed the impression that public commemoration activities by social initiatives in Germany will have to confront strong resistance or be thwarted by politically interested sectors. Even though they might not be part of racist groups, explain participants of the train initiative, their behavior is encouraging the offensive nationalist and right-wing extremist milieu. This is why the protests against the Bahn AG's behavior "fizzled out,"[2] says Ute Schilde, a member of the initiative's presidium. Against this backdrop, social engagement must be intensified.
Voluntary Commitment
Around the date of the commemoration of the victims of the Nazi Pogrom Night (Nov. 9 - 10), youth as well as representatives of intermediary generations will, for the first time this year, meet with survivors of the "Reichsbahn" deportations to participate in the "Alliance of the Generations." Preparations were made by the train initiators already at the train's destination, Auschwitz, where the participants made voluntary commitments [3] that will now be concretized.
Alternative Actions
"Alternative actions against racism and anti-Semitism" will therefore be introduced in November to locally "counteract the forgetting and the denial."[4] At the same time, the fate of the last remaining survivors will be enhanced "through personal engagement of cross-border help," according to the program for the "Alliance of the Generations." While seeking broader public attention, the victims of the "Reichsbahn's" deportations will be personally supported.
Attack
During the next train tour, participants of the "Alliance of the Generations" want to recruit in each of the train stations. Beginning in January 2009 stations in West and Southern Germany, as well as neighboring border regions are earmarked, explains the initiative.[5] The new circuit will end in May 2009, probably also in Oświęcim (the Auschwitz Memorial). September 1 in the second half of 2009 will be of special significance. This is the 70th anniversary of the German attack on Poland.
Please read also our EXTRA-Dossier Elftausend Kinder.
