Located in the vibrant district of Moabit is the Levetzowstrasse Deportation Memorial, a poignant reminder of one of the darkest chapters in the city’s history. This memorial marks the site of the former Levetzowstrasse Synagogue, which tragically changed from a place of worship to a transit camp for deportation during the Nazi regime.
This memorial, commonly known as Moabit’s memorial, is an important historical site that provides a sobering insight into the systematic persecution and deportation of Berlin’s Jewish community.
I discovered the Moabit’s Memorial while on a photo walk around the area in the fall of 2017; the pictures here are from that visit. I didn’t know about the Levetzowstraße Deportation Memorial and the Levetzowstraße Synagogue that used to stand there before. But once I stumbled upon these pictures while researching for something else, I knew I had to write about it here.
Uncovering History: Moabit’s Memorial to Berlin’s Deported Jews
The story begins in early October 1941, when the Gestapo commandeered the synagogue, one of Berlin’s largest, to serve as a “transit camp.” The official pretext was “partial evacuation for work deployment in the east.” In reality, it was the first step in a horrific process of mass deportation. The synagogue, which had miraculously survived the worst of the Kristallnacht pogroms, was now to become a holding pen for those destined for ghettos and extermination camps.
On the night of October 16-17, 1941, the Gestapo began rounding up Jewish citizens, transporting them to the overcrowded synagogue. Each person was allowed only 50 kilograms of baggage and 50 Reichsmark. The rest of their possessions had already been confiscated.
The atmosphere within the locked synagogue, where every person was forced to wear the yellow star, was fear and despair. While some clung to the hope of returning after “work deployment,” others knew the grim reality and tragically took their own lives.
The first deportation took place on October 18, 1941. One thousand Jews, laden with their meager belongings, were forced to walk through the pouring rain to Grunewald train station. Only older people, the sick, and young children were transported by truck. The Gestapo meticulously documented and seized any remaining valuables, ensuring the complete stripping of their victims’ dignity and possessions.
The Levetzowstraße Synagogue continued to serve as a transit camp until June 9, 1942. The building, damaged by wartime bombing, was ultimately demolished in 1956.
The site remained largely unmarked for decades, a silent testament to the horrors that had transpired.
A Silent Witness: Exploring Moabit’s Memorial at the Former Levetzowstraße Synagogue
In 1988, a significant memorial was unveiled, created after a competition won by sculptor Peter Herbrich and architects Theseus Bappert and Professor Jürgen Wenzel. This memorial in Moabit is a multi-faceted work of art intended to evoke the deep tragedy of the deportations.
A prominent feature is the “flame wall,” a steel structure that lists the dates of the 63 transports from Berlin to the East. On the ground, cast-iron reliefs of 34 of Berlin’s largest synagogues serve as a reminder of the vibrant Jewish community that was systematically destroyed.
The central element of the memorial is a stylized depiction of prisoners on a ramp and inside a train car, with two rail tracks leading east, symbolizing the path to the death camps. Marble figures, bound together, convey the helplessness and suffering of the victims. This is easily one of the most impactful elements of this memorial, especially when you think about the transport process these people went through at the time.
The memorial also incorporates an older brick wall, a remnant of earlier attempts at commemoration, demonstrating the evolution of remembrance. This layering of memorials adds depth and complexity to the site, reflecting the ongoing process of grappling with the past.
The Levetzowstrasse Deportation Memorial is not just a historical marker but a space for reflection and remembrance. This memorial serves as an important educational tool, ensuring that the horrors of the Holocaust are never forgotten.
Visiting the memorial in Moabit provides a profound and moving experience, reminding us of the necessity for vigilance against hatred and intolerance. And it shines a different light in a part of town that isn’t known for its Jewish culture.
Remembering Berlin’s Deportations at Levetzowstraße in Moabit
Levetzowstraße 7-8
10555 Berlin
