The Commemorations for the victims of the former "REIMAHG" armament factory at Kahla
May 4th - May 6th 2006

This year, various commemorations were organised by the Förderverein "Mahn- und Gedenkstätte Walpersberg" e.V. (former "REIMAHG" Association). The close cooperation between the survivors` associations from Belgium and Italy, the surrounding towns and numerous honorary assistants was maintained.

4th May 2006

Inauguration of the Memorial stone in Hummelshain.

IIn the Hummelshain Castle, that was used in 1945 as a hospital, many forced labourers died of typhus, dysentery or exhaustion. The memorial stone in Hummelshain remembers the victims of the "REIMAHG". It was constructed out of stones taken from the former "REIMAHG" factory and, after many years of decay, was in urgent need of renovation. The town of Hummelshain dedicated itself to this mission and thus on May 4th, 2006 the memorial stone could be inaugurated by Victor Pleschkewitsch (former Russian forced labourer), Valere Braet (former Belgian forced labourer) and Maria Schüler (former Red Cross nurse) in an emotional ceremony.
Manfred Teichmann, mayor of Hummelshain greeted the guests present and the vicar Michael Schlegel blessed the new memorial stone. This was followed by the laying of wreaths and a small reception in the Hummelshain Castle.

5th May 2006

Commemoration at the former "REIMAHG" area at the Walpersberg Mountain

More then 170 guests met on Friday. Former forced labourers and their relatives from Belgium, Italy, Russia, Poland, France, Slovakia, Belorussia and the Netherlands. Further more, delegations from the neighbouring towns, the Belgian army and Dr. Klaus W. Müller, author of the book "Codename Salmon" were present.
The chairman of the Volksbank Saaletal eG, this year`s patron of the commemoration, was represented by Mr. Epp. He greeted the guests and assured further support for our association in the future. Vicar Ellen Hoffmann blessed the new stone memorial plaques, which were sponsored by the province of Macerata and the American and Belgian army. (We would like to thank the lock making company Eissmann from Kahla, who mounted the many plaques). After this, wreaths from the Italian President, the Belgian Embassy, the Slovakian Embassy, the Italian General Consulate, the Polish General Consulate, the Flemish Government, the French Embassy, the Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge e.V. Landesverband Thüringen, the Italian province of Macerata, the GTGJ association e.V., the town of Grosseutersdorf, the Belgian and Italian survivors associations and our association were laid.

The "Sunset" dance group performed very emotionally. A special tribute was afforded to our association member Patrick Brion, when Paul Baert (Chairman of the Belgian Survivors association), presented him with a letter of thanks and a gift on behalf of all former forced labourers for his many years of involvement.
After this, the many guests visited the exhibition filled with numerous artefacts and documents, that clearly explained the history of the "REIMAHG".
A camera team from the Belgian Army and the German MDR television channel interviewed many witnesses.

Under a clear blue sky and with superb catering, the commemoration at the Walpersberg Mountain came to an end.

Commemoration in Kleindembach

In the late afternoon, the town of Langenorla, which is situated in the beautiful Saale-Orla district, received its visitors. Mayor Georg Graven and District administrator Frank Rössner gave short speeches during this event.
After this, children from the Langenorla basic school, who had previously had an educational lecture all about the "REIMAHG" by Patrick Brion, together with former forced labourers from different nations and German witnesses, laid down flowers at the memorial stone. This stone remembers that there was a forced labour camp at this site. At the cemetery at Kleindembach further wreaths were laid.

The town of Kleindembach invited everyone after this event to join in the "Feast of national understanding". Young or old… many citizens of the area, as well as the invited guests from different nations and those who helped during the commemorations, met up at the town`s sports field. There was an extensive programme with catering waiting for them.
In a large marquee the guests were entertained with different acts that the local kindergarten and children from the basic school in Langenorla had prepared.

In between times, the choral society Langenorla-Kleindembach and the Oschitzer brass band added to the evening with their music. The Italian guests joined in spontaneously with their own songs.

There was also the opportunity for a generation-crossing group photo with the numerous witnesses present and children from the area.
We were very happy when Mayor Georg Graven presented a 1:4000 scale model of the Walpersberg, that was donated by the Railroad friends Langenorla e.V. association and the town of Langenorla, to our association.

6th May 2006

Visitors to the "REIMAHG" site, lecture and exhibition

On Saturday morning it was possible for visitors to take a closer look at the remains of the "REIMAHG" at the mountain as well as to visit the exhibition. Many more visitors than were expected arrived. At the site, a lecture about the history of the Walpersberg was given by Rolf Ostendorf, who was responsible for the site for many years.
Commemorations in the Leubengrund Valley

At the same time, the traditional commemoration in the Leubengrund Valley began. Jürgen Mascher, acting for the last time as district administrator of the Saale-Holzland district, expressed his hope for a continuation of the commemorations in the future. Year after year the number of survivors that participate at the commemorations diminishes. But the growing participation of young people, who continue this tradition remembering the atrocities of fascism, give us hope for the future.

The commemoration events continued at the cemetery in Kahla, the former "Lager E" at Eichenberg and the cemetery in Hummelshain.
Our association organised lunch for the many guests in the Rosengarten and Gunter Dietrich had prepared an excellent buffet.

The town of Kahla honours

In the town hall of Kahla, Mayor Bernd Leube welcomed the former forced labourers, German witnesses and numerous guests. He presented the former Red Cross nurse Maria Schüler, as well as the former forced labourers Paul Baert (Belgium), Etienne Bauduin (Belgium), Viktor Pleschkewitsch (Belorussia), Leszek Kosinski (Poland), Wim Pieters (the Netherlands), Furio Gabriellie (Italy) and Klaus W. Müller (Author of the book "Codename Salmon") the honour medal of the city of Kahla. This is the highest recognition that the town of Kahla can bestow.
With this act, 61 Years after the end of World War Two, all who were there at that time were honoured. The importance of this recognition by the town shows that reconciliation and mutual remembering in Europe are not hollow phrases.

Balilla Bolognesi (former Italian forced labourer) spoke in a moving speech and urged that what happened so long ago at the Walpersberg, should never be forgotten…

We would like to thank:

Our association "Mahn- und Gedenkstätte Walpersberg" e.V would like to say thank you to all guests and those who helped und supported us with the organisation of these commemorations.

Albert Vandael and his wife Karine
All members of our Association and their spouses
André Flahaut, Belgian Secretary of Defence
André Schattlack and Daniel Weise
André Van Hasebroeck and his wife Karine
Andreas Seime, Town Hummelshain
Bauhof, City of Kahla
Belgian Embassy, Berlin
BIMA, Erfurt
Castelnovo ne Monti, Italy
Doris Kuschke, City museum Kahla
Edi Clijsters, Flemish government, Berlin
Eisenbahnfreunde Langenorla e.V.
Flowers Klaus Putsche, Kahla
Flowers Krug, Kahla
General consul Adriano Tedeschi, Leipzig
General consul Ryszard Krol, Leipzig
Getränkemarkt Gügold, Grosseutersdorf
Ingo and Christian of the Eissmann company, Kahla
Jörg Kobs, Town of Grosseutersdorf
Juraj Solcany, Slovak Embassy
Marc, Kurt and Daniel of the Belgian Army for filming these events
Mayor Bernd Leube and the city council, City of Kahla
Mayor Georg Graven, Langenorla
Mayor Jens Hild, Town of Grosseutersdorf
Mayor Manfred Teichmann, Town of Hummelshain
Mr. Dietzel, REWE Market Kahla
Mr. Epp and Mr. Demme, Chairmen of the Volksbank Saaletal eG
Ms. Vicar Ellen Hoffmann
Our guests from Belgium, Italy, Poland, France, Slovakia, Byelorussia and the Netherlands
Province of Macerata, Italy
Ruth and Horst Partschefeld
The German Red Cross of the Saale-Holzland District
The Press and Television media present
Thibault de Champris, French embassy
Tony Page

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