Football fans follow the trace of history in Natzweiler-Struthof

The aim of the trip was to shed light on the history of this horrific camp and, in particular, to understand the connection to their own region. Through personal stories and remarkable accounts, the participants were made aware of the significance of this dark chapter of history.

The first stop of the trip was the Rothaus railway station, barely 8 km from the former Natzweiler-Struthof labour camp. The station, where many deported prisoners arrived in the Vosges, was the starting point for an exploration of the issues at hand.

Arriving at the concentration camp, the tour took the group through the remains of the camp, through barracks and barbed wire, which today are silent witnesses of the past horror. The fans were accompanied and guided by the director of the Alte Synagoge Steinsfurt e.V., Jutta Stier and Heidrun Karrer, who made the harrowing stories of the inmates tangible and used their in-depth knowledge to provide profound insights into the individual fates of the prisoners. The visit then became even more haunting. At a third stop, a little lower down, the group encountered a gas chamber - a place that so clearly illustrates the horrors of the time.

About 52,000 prisoners from all over Europe, especially from prisons in the Lorraine cities of Épinal and Nancy as well as Belfort in Franche-Comté, were deported to Struthof-Natzweiler and its affiliated satellite camps, including Neckarelz. 22,000 of them lost their lives through murder, disease, cold, malnutrition or the devastating after-effects of imprisonment.

After the groups had visited the memorial site, the trip concluded with a communal dinner in Strasbourg, where the participants were able to reflect on their experiences. Despite the solemnity of the day, the trip ended in a relaxed atmosphere.

The event was organised by TSG Hoffenheim and the Alte Synagoge Steinsfurt e.V. in cooperation with the club's fan project. Special thanks go to the fans who help to keep the memory of this dark period of history alive and remind us never to forget.

Background

The Sinsheim Weeks of Remembrance in October were initiated by the Alte Synagoge Steinsfurt e.V. and the fan support of TSG Hoffenheim. The weeks are intended to commemorate the deportation of Jews from Baden to Gurs in October 1940 and to combine remembrance, knowledge and humanity. TSG Hoffenheim is committed to keeping the memory of past injustices alive and to learning from history in order to create a fairer and more peaceful world.

Further events during Sinsheim Weeks of Remembrance:

The guided tour of Jewish life in the town with the Academy players at the beginning of October (more details here).

The exhibition "Kickers, Fighters and Legends - Jewish Footballers in Germany" in the Old Synagogue Steinsfurt. Opening hours are Monday to Friday from 16:00 to 19:00 and Sundays from 11:00 to 16:00. The exhibition ends on 29.10.2023.