In front of Dornberg Castle in Groß-Gerau, the work by artist Gerhard Habermann from Stockstadt reminds us of the fate of many people who lost their homes.
"Humanity overcomes the spiral of hatred and violence." That is the central message of a memorial that was unveiled in front of Dornberg Castle in Groß-Gerau. It shows children, women and men holding hands in an opening spiral: a symbol of the solidarity of all people and mutual forgiveness. The memorial was built by the company Metallkultur (Groß-Umstadt) based on a design by the Stockstadt architect and artist Gerhard Habermann. It was created on the initiative of the district association of the Federation of Expellees (BdV); the Groß-Gerau district supported the project.
The monument is at the same time a “sign against forgetting,” as Helmut Brandl from the BdV management team said: “This monument is intended to clarify and remind at the same time that the right to one’s homeland is recognized and realized as one of humanity’s fundamental rights given by God. “Expulsions should not be the result of acts of war. “Only the renunciation of revenge and retaliation for injustice suffered can pave the way for peaceful coexistence between peoples.”
The idea for a central memorial for the district matured in 2016 during a ceremony to mark the first arrival of German expellees in the district 70 years earlier. The idea was deepened in discussions, Brandl continued. Ultimately, discussions with District Administrator Thomas Will led to a common result. This was presented to around 60 guests at the event moderated by Hans-Josef Becker (BdV).
A plaque attached to the spiral quotes a few sentences from the charter of German expellees from 1950. It says: “We have lost our homeland. God placed people in their homeland. To separate a person from his homeland by force means to kill him in spirit." Further: "We call on peoples and people who are of good will to lend a hand to the work, so that out of guilt, misfortune, suffering, poverty and misery for us The way to a better future can all be found.”