Commemoration of the pogrom night: Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania keeps memories alive

Commemoration of the pogrom night: Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania keeps memories alive

November 9, 2025 is a day of remembrance in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. This weekend the Kristallnacht pogrom of 1938 is commemorated. The persecution of Jewish people by the Nazi regime is remembered at numerous memorial events and prayers. Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig (SPD) emphasizes the importance of keeping historical events in mind and shows how essential the defense of democracy is. This year marks the 87th anniversary of the pogrom night. It is a reminder that such injustice must never happen again, as NDR reports.

The pogrom night represents a turning point: on November 9, 1938, synagogues, shops and homes of Jewish citizens throughout Germany were devastated. Numerous synagogues and shops burned in northern Germany. The night was marked by violence and the mass arrests of Jewish citizens. Schwesig emphasizes that this marks the beginning of the systematic destruction of Jewish life - a dark shadow over German history.

Commemorative events in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

In many cities in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, memorial events will take place on November 9th and 10th to commemorate the Jewish victims of National Socialism. With an impressive program, a warning and memorial hour will be organized at the Schlachtermarkt in Schwerin, which will take place at 6 p.m. under the motto “Stay human!” stands. A prayer service by the Protestant student community will also take place in Greifswald at 1 p.m., followed by the “Greifswalder Commemoration” in St. Nikolai Cathedral at 5 p.m. In addition, memorial initiatives are planned in Güstrow, Neubrandenburg and Stralsund, during which, among other things, stumbling blocks will be cleaned and church services celebrated, as Politics MV summarizes.

• Schwerin: Mahn- und Gedenkstunde, Schlachtermarkt, 18 Uhr
• Greifswald: Andacht, Mühlenstraße, 13 Uhr
• Güstrow: Gedenktreffen in der Pfarrkirche St. Marien, 16 Uhr
• Neubrandenburg: Gedenken auf dem Synagogenplatz, 10 Uhr
• Stralsund: Gedenkstunde auf jüdischem Friedhof, 15 Uhr
• Rostock: Andacht am 10. November, 9:30 Uhr, am ehemaligen jüdischen Friedhof, gefolgt von einer Gedenkveranstaltung an der Gedenkstelle in der Augustenstraße

The “Sound of the Memorial Stones” event, which takes place on November 9th in Rostock from 5:45 p.m. to 6:15 p.m., is particularly symbolic. The victims of the pogrom night are remembered in several places with small concerts and communal singing of a Yiddish song.

The legacy of the stumbling blocks

A central element of commemoration are the stumbling blocks, which recall the fates of those persecuted and murdered during National Socialism. Cleaning campaigns will be organized on November 9th to freshen up these memorial stones by Gunter Demnig. The stumbling blocks are not just memorabilia, they also represent the tireless fight against anti-Semitism and exclusion. Nora Steen from the Cultural Association warns that we must remain vigilant to counteract such atrocities in the future. There are also digital offerings that offer insights into the stories of the people affected, as Politics MV further explains.

Commemoration goes beyond mere remembrance; it is an appeal to current and future generations to take responsibility to protect the values ​​of democracy. Mascha Krink, whose grandfather was stigmatized as an “anti-social person,” uses her personal story to show how important it is not to let one's legacy be forgotten. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, a large number of projects and actions will be launched this year to keep the memory of the victims of National Socialism alive.