Former German Minister of Construction Oscar Schneider Passes Away at 97
Oscar Schneider, a former German Minister of Construction, has passed away at the age of 97. Born in Nuremberg, Schneider was a key figure in the establishment of the Documentation Center Reichsparteitagsgelände in Nuremberg and the preservation of the Reichstag dome in Berlin.
In a posthumous tribute, the editor of the VNP, Michael Husarek, wrote that Schneider had wished to create a memorial that would serve as a reminder of the destruction of Nuremberg’s old town during World War II for generations to come. He had wanted to create a monument against war and destruction.
However, there is already a memorial for the victims of the bombing in Nuremberg, located on the Südfriedhof, a cemetery outside the old town. The memorial, a two-part bell tower, was built in the late 1950s and early 1980s, and features a inscription that reads: “As a reminder and in memory of 6,621 men, women, and children, victims of the bombing war and the battles in the homeland in the years 1941-1945.”
Despite its grand design, the memorial has its flaws. The bell tower, with its two bells, appears abstract and impersonal, and the suffering of the Nuremberg people is not represented. Furthermore, there is a platform for the city council or the mayor to lay wreaths, but no pedestal for the public to leave flowers or tributes.
The use of stones from the former Nuremberg synagogue, which was destroyed in 1938, is also a point of contention. Jewish voices have criticized the reuse of these stones, and the memorial’s inability to unite the entire community.
The Bombing of Nuremberg: A Forgotten Event
January 2, 1945, was a fateful day in Nuremberg’s history, with the city suffering significant destruction, comparable only to the bombing of Dresden and Königsberg. The Nuremberg old town, once known as the “Treasury of the Reich” was reduced to a flat, open space with only the ancient, solid rock passages beneath the castle and the early warning of the Flak Feldwebel Arthur Schöddert, affectionately known as “Onkel Baldrian” saving the lives of nearly 1,800 people.
Despite its significance, the 80th anniversary of the bombing of Nuremberg was largely ignored, with only a few events, such as a wreath-laying ceremony and a “Path of Peace” with a closing service at St. Sebaldus, taking place.
The silence surrounding the event is likely due to the fact that the bombing was carried out by the United States and Great Britain, the same countries now considered NATO allies. The silence may also be a result of the desire not to draw attention to the suffering of the civilian population during war.
A Call for a More Meaningful Memorial
The author of the article calls for a more meaningful memorial, one that would serve as a reminder of the destruction of Nuremberg’s old town and the suffering of its people. The city and the state government should support the efforts of local organizations, such as the Felsengänge e. V. – Nürnberger Unterwelten, to create a more fitting memorial to the victims of the bombing.