Reflections and Remembrances: Commemorating the 87th Anniversary of the Reichspogromnacht in Meißen

As November 9th, 2025 nears, Meißen prepares to mark Reichspogromnacht—known as Kristallnacht—with a quiet act of remembrance. The city looks back to the dark night of 1938, when state actions moved from harsh discrimination to the violent persecution of Jewish citizens. That night, synagogues burned, shops were damaged, and many people suffered harm, arrest, or death.

In Meißen, people honor the past with a series of events that remember the victims and keep their stories near. The local association Buntes Meißen works with the community to keep this memory alive while building clear bonds among neighbors.

Upcoming Commemorative Events in Meißen

• November 7th, 7:00 PM — Domherrenhaus Meißen
  The remembrance week begins with Matthias Brandis reading his work, “Meines Großvaters Geige – The Fate of the Hamburg Jewish Families Wohlwill and Dehn.” His story follows two Jewish families for two hundred years. He shows how one man, Yoel Wolf (later known as Immanuel Wohlwill), set liberal ideas in motion at home. In time, National Socialism disrupted the family. Some left the country; many were lost, and one survived the hard days in Theresienstadt.

• November 9th, 3:00 PM — Stolperstein Memorial Walk
  On the day of remembrance, locals will follow a route marked by small brass plaques set in the pavement. These markers stand at the sites where victims once lived or worked. The walk links the past to the present and lets each person think on the lives that were changed.

• November 9th, 5:00 PM — Frauenkirche Meißen
  The gathering ends with a concert by Aufwind at the Frauenkirche Meißen. The group will play traditional Yiddish Klezmer music in a program arranged by the Evangelical Lutheran Parish of St. Afra. The sounds and old tunes help set a quiet mood. Tickets can be bought at the door.

Honoring past suffering binds the community and shows why it is important to learn from history. By listening to stories of loss and survival, by joining in music and memorial walks, the people of Meißen keep alive a clear warning against hatred and division.

As the 87th anniversary passes, Meißen stands with cities worldwide to remember those who suffered. Their stories live on to guide us toward care, learning, and true understanding for all days ahead.