Buchenwald Memorial Groups Oppose German Culture Minister's Participation in Liberation Commemoration

Two associations representing former political prisoners of Buchenwald concentration camp have publicly requested that German Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer withdraw from delivering remarks at the April 12 memorial event marking the camp's liberation. In an open letter signed by Katinka Poensgen of the Buchenwald-Dora Camp Working Group and Horst Gobrecht of the Buchenwald-Dora Camp Community, the organizations criticize Weimer's past statements and recent cultural policy decisions. They argue his use of a Heinrich Heine quote about baptism certificates as entry to European culture excludes Holocaust survivors and their descendants. The groups also reference Weimer's removal of three leftist bookstores from a national award shortlist based on security concerns, noting their relatives might have been customers. They ask that commemorations remain separate from current cultural policy disputes. The memorial event at Buchenwald will feature entertainer Hape Kerkeling, whose grandfather was imprisoned there.