Whoever thinks of the Nazi era and queer victims often thinks of gay or transsexual men. It is often forgotten that lesbian women were also persecuted and killed. A special initiative has now ensured that a memorial is dedicated to the victims who were imprisoned in the Ravensbrück concentration camp.
However, this is by no means a short-term decision. Over a long period of time, many activists have fought for precisely such a place of remembrance - including transnationally, in both Germany and Austria.
A look back
Thousands of people were cruelly murdered in the Ravensbrück concentration camp during the Nazi regime. A large part of them (about 120,000) were women. Many of them were lesbians. They came from different parts of the world.
If you look a little closer at this dark chapter of German history, you will quickly realize that - until now - there are interestingly few works on this topic. Even the initiators who called for a memorial first had to prove that lesbian women were actually victims here.
The request was discussed again and again in the most different circles. For several years, there had already been disagreement about whether or not there should be a sign of remembrance. Now the decision was made, which caused a sigh of relief in many respects. Among other things because one does not have to see oneself any longer in the Zugzwang to have to prove that during the Nazi regime also quite a few lesbian women became victims. In addition, the visibility for this special group, which has been neglected in the context of scientific work, is increased.
A sphere to invite you to pause
It should not be long before the memorial sphere is unveiled. Already in the coming spring it will be so far.
The work of art is about 40 cm tall and will be displayed to the public at the former wall of the camp. Here is a memorial area where visitors can pause. To further emphasize the message of the sphere and the memorial monument, an additional inscription will be added. Thus, on the sphere is written: "In memory of all lesbian women and girls in the women's concentration camp Ravensbrück and Uckermark. You were persecuted, imprisoned, murdered. You are not forgotten.".
Especially the latter sentence should bring relief to many people who have fought so long for a memorial stone of this kind. After all, many activists are concerned with exactly that: to commemorate the lesbian victims of the Nazi regime without letting them get lost in the mass of other victims.
A collaboration across national borders
In connection with the sphere as a "memorial stone", it is certainly also particularly impressive that it is the product of cross-border cooperation between Germany and Austria.
Numerous activists have fought for it to find its place on the wall of the former concentration camp next April.
And even though the sphere "only" has a diameter of 40 cm, there is an incredible expressiveness behind this commemorative element. After all, the memorial monument draws attention to a subject area that many people (albeit unconsciously) may still not really be aware of today.
By the way, there is no ticket sale for the Rainbow Ball in Vienna anymore.