The synagogues and buildings were destroyed during the pogroms of 9 November 1938, also known as Kristallnacht, or the night of broken glass.
To remember the horrors of Kristallnacht on its 83rd anniversary, the World Jewish Congress will virtually reconstruct on Tuesday 18 synagogues and Jewish community buildings across Germany and Austria that were destroyed by the Nazis.
The synagogues and buildings were destroyed during the pogroms of 9 November 1938, also known as Kristallnacht, or the night of broken glass.
The World Jewish Congress, with support of the Central Council of Jews in Germany and the Federation of Austrian Jewish Communities, will make it possible to virtually experience 18 of these buildings for one night.
Video projections of the digitally reconstructed synagogues will be displayed on current-day buildings and screens at the original historic sites to shine a light on the richness and diversity of Jewish life in Germany.
The initiative in Germany will take place under the patronage of Germany’s Federal Minister of Justice and Consumer Protection Christine Lambrecht. In Austria the provided projections will be under the patronage of Federal Minister of Justice lma Zadić and Federal Minister for the EU and Constitution Karoline Edtstadler.
The digital reconstructions were created by the Technical University Darmstadt and the Technical University of Vienna.
“The Nazis infringed on the most sacred buildings that provided shelter and solidarity for people. The destruction of places of worship was an anticipation of the Holocaust. The intention of the perpetrators was very clear. The presence of Jews was supposed to vanish from the public sphere and thereby also be erased from collective memory,” said WJC President Ronald S.Lauder. ”This history makes it more important today to make visible and perceptible what was lost in 1938. Within the last number of years, new synagogues have reopened again bringing hope for a more peaceful future. I hope that this installation will make people interested in visiting a real synagogue and come together in conversation with Jewish communities worldwide,” he added.
The video projections will be visible at the following 13 locations throughout Germany.
- Berlin: Synagogue at Fasanenstraße
- Hamburg: Synagogue at Bornplatz
- München: Synagogue at Herzog-Max-Straße
- Frankfurt/Main: Synagogue at Friedberger Anlage
- Köln: Synagogue at Glockengasse
- Hannover: Synagogue at Rote Reihe 6
- Dortmund: Synagogue at Hiltropwall
- Darmstadt: Synagogue at Bleichstraße/Grafenstraße
- Kaiserslautern: Synagogue at Luisenstraße
- Paderborn: Synagogue at Am Bußdorf
- Minden: Synagogue at Kampstraße
- Bamberg: Synagogue at Herzog-Max-Straße
- Plauen: Senefelder Straße/Engelstraße
At some of the above listed locations, there will be additional presentations via virtual reality glasses available on site.
Additionally, video projections will be visible at the following five locations in Austria:
- Vienna: Synagogue at Tempelgasse
- Vienna: Synagogue at Hubergasse
- Vienna: Synagogue at Pazmanitengasse
- Vienna: Synagogue at Dirmhirngasse
- Linz: Synagogue at Dethlehemstraße
Projections will start at dusk between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., depending on the location.
The event is part of the #WeRemember campaign by the World Jewish Congress, which provides Holocaust education in the lead up to International Holocaust Remembrance day on January 27.