ECB commemorates Holocaust Day, establishes Garden of Remembrance
The European Central Bank (ECB) commemorated International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27 with an event at its Frankfurt headquarters, establishing a Garden of Remembrance. ECB President Christine Lagarde exchanged views with Diane von Fürstenberg, daughter of Holocaust survivors, on memory and hope.
Lagarde emphasizes shared responsibility
The European Central Bank (ECB) observed International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27 with a solemn event at its main building in Frankfurt.
ECB President Christine Lagarde, Frankfurt City Councillor Ina Hartwig, Jewish Museum Director Mirjam Wenzel, and Hesse Antisemitism Commissioner Uwe Becker delivered speeches.
President Lagarde engaged in a discussion with fashion designer and philanthropist Diane von Fürstenberg, daughter of Holocaust survivors, on family history, intergenerational trauma, and hope.
Lagarde emphasized, "By commemorating the Holocaust, we reaffirm our shared responsibility to oppose all forms of antisemitism and hatred.
" A newly cultivated magnolia tree, named after Ms. von Fürstenberg's late mother, Lily Nahmias, an Auschwitz survivor, was presented.
This tree marks the inception of the ECB's Garden of Remembrance, with additional trees to be planted annually.
A site of remembrance and renewal
The site of the ECB's main building, the former Großmarkthalle, is historically significant.
From 1941 to 1945, over 10,000 Jewish citizens were gathered in its east wing basement before deportation to concentration camps.
The ECB, in cooperation with the Jewish Community of Frankfurt and the City of Frankfurt, established a memorial site within the building.
This memorial incorporates engraved quotes from victims and observers, illustrating the scale of the deportations.
The ECB annually hosts a commemorative event at this site to honor all Holocaust victims, including those deported from the Großmarkthalle.
Memory as a foundation for the future
This annual commemoration by the ECB transcends mere remembrance, actively embedding historical consciousness into its institutional fabric.
By acknowledging the dark past of its location, the central bank reinforces its commitment to human dignity and the fight against hatred.
Such initiatives are crucial for fostering a culture of responsibility, ensuring that the lessons of history guide future actions and institutional values.