Arols city tour: commemorate the Jewish fate of the past

Arols city tour: commemorate the Jewish fate of the past

Bad Arolsen, Deutschland - On June 25, 2025, a very special city tour to the Jewish cemetery took place in Bad Arolsen. Organized by the district group of the historical association and the CRS history workshop, a revised city tour was presented, which was designed by a profile course in grades 11 and 12 of the Christian-Rauch School. The focus was on the fates of the Jews from Arols during the time of National Socialism, and it lasted almost two hours.

This first public event of this kind led to graves that were created between 1738 and 1941. The digital documentation of the tombstones and inscriptions can also be viewed on the website of the history workshop. The results are the result of detailed research by Michael Winkelmann, Erhard Kraft and the Lagis History Service.

historical background and commemoration

At the time of National Socialism, 16 Jews lived in Arolsen in 1933. But until 1939 the Jewish population had fled or deported completely. Returning Jews, such as Walter Schönstädt, experienced great reservations after the war in the restitution of their assets. In the 1980s, Schönstädt had a memorial stone built for the murdered Jews, which is an important step towards the culture of memory in the region. Events that commemorate the persecution and murder of the Jews have been taking place regularly since the 1980s.

The Jewish cemetery is often referred to as the "house of life" and reflects hope for resurrection. The historical workshop has set itself the task of keeping and preserving memory of the Jewish fellow citizens and their fates at the time of National Socialism.

Jewish life in Germany and the role of politics

The Central Council, which was founded 75 years ago in Frankfurt, calls on politics to find clear words against the watering of the memory of the Schoa. It is important that the memory of the persecution and the history of the Jews in Germany does not get into the background and are created for Jewish perspectives.

A look at publications, such as the biographical documentation "wiped out life. Jews in Erfurt 1933 - 1945", suggests how significant the reappraisal and culture of remembrance are today. This publication not only documents the moving fates of Jewish citizens, but also finds that many of them left cities such as Erfurt and Arols for various reasons and at different times, often on the flight from persecution and oppression.

The joint efforts, be it through city tours or publications, show that memory of Jewish history remains an important topic of our society. It's about pulling the teachings from the past and creating an open, tolerant future.

Further information on the activities and revision can be found on the website of the historical workshop https://www.hna.de/lokales/frankenberg/bad-arolsen-ort55389/moderne-Medien-weren-zer-er-arolser-erungenkultur-9379583.html) and the central council of the Jews [Central Council of the Jews.