Ten newly planted trees since Sunday in Zwickau remember the murder victims of the far-right NSU. "We show that the NSU is a part of Zwickau history," said Mayor Pia Findeiß (SPD) at the inauguration of the memorial site. In addition to the trees, ten commemorative plaques with the names of the victims were installed.
The site should be a sign of hope for a peaceful coexistence, but at the same time a reminder to work for democracy and tolerance. With the inauguration of the memorial site, the commitment to the free-democratic basic order should not and could not end, according to Findeiß.
At the beginning of October, a commemorative tree for Enver Simsek, the first victim of right-wing terrorists, was planted in Zwickau by unknown persons. The act had caused nationwide indignation, but also triggered a wave of solidarity: The administration of the Saxon city received around 14 000 euros in donations, flowers were laid and vigils were held. The stump of the sawn-off tree initially remained as a reminder.
Peter Endig / DPA
Memorial in Zwickau with stump of the previously sawn tree by unknown trees:
At the inauguration ceremony, there was a dispute between participants and the police after a young woman had damaged a wreath laid down by the Zwickau AFD faction. According to news agency dpa, some observers defended the woman and argued that flowers from a party that spread their own ideas constituted another mockery of the victims. The police, however, evaluated the events of the agency message as damage to property.
The NSU had acted unrecognized for some years from Zwickau in the underground, to the core of the terrorist group included Uwe Mundlos, Uwe Böhnhardt and Beate Zschäpe. In September 2000 Mundlos and Böhnhardt had shot the Turkish florist Simsek in Nuremberg. The murder of the family man was the prelude to an assassination series, which nationwide nine citizens with a migrant background and a policewoman fell victim. Also two explosive attacks and various robberies should go to the account of the right-wing extremists.
On Monday Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) is expected at the memorial in Zwickau. She wants to lay down flowers there.