
The war memorial (in Germany usually referred to as warrior memorial (Kriegerdenkmal) because the names of the fallen soldiers are displayed) in our town was inaugurated in 1936 to honour the dead of world war I. The much longer list of fallen soldiers from world war II was added in the 1950s. Because of the bellicose demeanour of the sculpture it is now viewed critically. Instead of removing the sculpture the town has chosen to go a different route: in direct line passing the location of the former synagogue (destroyed in 1938) is a memorial for the victims of violence, war, and prosecution. I see it as a warning against a dystopian future which would resemble a not so distant past.
