ECB marks Holocaust Remembrance Day with ceremony and Memorial Garden
The European Central Bank hosted a commemorative event on International Holocaust Remembrance Day on 27 January 2026 in Frankfurt. The ceremony featured addresses by President Christine Lagarde and other officials, launching a Memorial Garden initiative with the first tree named Lily Nahmias.
A Living Tribute to Memory
The European Central Bank hosted a solemn commemorative event on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, 27 January 2026, at its main building in Frankfurt.
The ceremony featured addresses from ECB President Christine Lagarde, Deputy Mayor Ina Hartwig, Jewish Museum Director Mirjam Wenzel, and Hessian State Commissioner Uwe Becker.
A central part of the programme was a discussion between President Lagarde and designer Diane von Fürstenberg, daughter of Holocaust survivors, who reflected on her family's history, intergenerational trauma, and future hope.
President Lagarde emphasized the enduring importance of remembrance: "In remembering the Holocaust, we reaffirm our shared responsibility to stand against antisemitism and all forms of hatred.
Memory is not only about the past – it is a call to protect human dignity today and for generations to come.
" The event underscored the ECB's commitment to confronting historical lessons.
Seeds of Remembrance and Renewal
The ceremony launched the ECB's Memorial Garden initiative, with Diane von Fürstenberg receiving the first tree, a magnolia named Lily Nahmias in honour of her late mother, an Auschwitz survivor.
This garden will see a new tree added annually, creating a living tribute.
The ECB's Grossmarkthalle site holds deep historical significance, having served as a deportation point for over 10,000 Jewish people from 1941 to 1945. A memorial, established with the Jewish Community Frankfurt and the City of Frankfurt, features engraved testimonies, ensuring this history is preserved.
Memory's Enduring Imperative
This annual commemoration underscores the critical role institutions play in fostering historical awareness and combating contemporary hatred.
The Memorial Garden offers a poignant, living symbol of remembrance, connecting past atrocities with a future commitment to human dignity.
Such initiatives are vital for ensuring the lessons of the Holocaust remain central to societal values and collective responsibility.