"Evening celebration titled 'Night of Youth' held at Bremen City Hall"
In the heart of Bremen, Germany, the Upper Hall of the town hall played host to a poignant and powerful event on November 6. The Night of Youth, themed "RESPEKT:VOLL," served as an antidote to xenophobia, racism, and anti-Semitism, and commemorated the 85th anniversary of the "Euthanasia Decree" of the Nazis.
The event, an annual commemoration of the crimes of the NS dictatorship and the Reichspogromnacht of November 9, 1938, was organised by young people and featured a diverse programme that spanned over several hours. Highlights included a youth political debate, swing choreography, film excerpts, info stands, presentations, musical performances, dance performances, and an exhibition.
One of the most moving moments came from the conversations in the Senate Hall with Eva Umlauf and Friedrich Buhlrich, who shared their personal experiences of the NS dictatorship.
Eva Umlauf, born in a Jewish labor camp in the Slovak Republic in 1942, was deported to Auschwitz at the age of almost two. She is the only survivor of her immediate family; her father and other relatives were murdered by the National Socialists. Eva later studied medicine and moved to Munich, where she worked as a pediatrician and psychotherapist. She published her memories in the book "The number on your forearm is blue like your eyes" in March 2016.
Eva was tattooed with a concentration camp number in Auschwitz, a haunting reminder of the horrors she endured. Despite this, she has chosen to use her experiences to promote understanding and healing.
Friedrich Buhlrich, on the other hand, was fortunate enough to be adopted by a family from Gropelein. Tragically, his three half-siblings were victims of the medical experiments of the so-called "child euthanasia." In the late 1960s, Friedrich discovered his lost family members.
Mayor Andreas Bovenschulte opened the event, singing along with the respect song "None of us is perfect, but we all deserve respect," created by students from the Oberschule at Koblenzer Straße in Tenever. The theme of the event, treating each other with respect and living together peacefully, resonated throughout the evening.
The Night of Youth is a testament to Bremen's commitment to fostering understanding, social cohesion, and dialogue across diverse backgrounds. While it may not always address xenophobia, racism, and anti-Semitism explicitly, it serves as a platform for intercultural exchange, tolerance, and solidarity—core values in German society. For those interested in events with explicit anti-racism or inclusivity agendas in Bremen, it may be helpful to consult local city or youth services for the most up-to-date listings.
- The diverse program at the Night of Youth in Bremen not only includes education-and-self-development sessions through personal-growth discussions like those with Eva Umlauf and Friedrich Buhlrich, but also general-news presentations and musical-performance showcases.
- As the Night of Youth in Bremen promotes respect and peaceful coexistence, it serves as a platform for politics-related debates among young people, such as the youth political debate held at the event, while also encouraging personal-growth discussions and intercultural exchange.
