• Silent Heroes Memorial Center
Tens of thousands of Jews in Germany and in the occupied European countries were rescued by courageous helpers. The Silent Heroes Memorial Center honours these helpers.
Image: Berlin, after 1945, Harald Poelchau, prison pastor between 1933 and 1945, in the cell block at Tegel prison, Gedenkstätte Deutscher Widerstand
Berlin, after 1945, Harald Poelchau, prison pastor between 1933 and 1945, in the cell block at Tegel prison, Gedenkstätte Deutscher Widerstand

Image: Berlin, 2008, Part of the exhibition at the Silent Heroes Memorial Center, GDW Berlin, Thomas Bruns
Berlin, 2008, Part of the exhibition at the Silent Heroes Memorial Center, GDW Berlin, Thomas Bruns
In the autumn of 1941, the National Socialist regime began deporting Jews from the German Reich. At the same time, the emigration of Jews was banned by law. Many Jews tried to go into hiding. In this way they could try to escape National Socialist persecution, but they had to live in hardship and with the constant fear of being discovered. The solidarity non-Jews expressed towards persecuted Jews took on various shapes and frequently became a form of resistance against the National Socialist regime. The helpers assisted Jews in their escape from Germany, they hid Jews in their apartments or organised false papers such as documents issued to Germans who suffered in air raids. In the NSDAP too there were people who used their position or rank to help Jews. However, many helpers acted out of financial motivations and demanded payment for their help. In many cases they ceased all help efforts once the financial reserves of those in hiding ran out.
About 5,000 Jews survived in the German Reich (according to the borders of 1937) thanks to the help of non-Jews. In Berlin alone over 1,400 Jews could be saved in this way. The exact number of rescuers and those rescued can today no longer be determined.
Image: Berlin, after 1945, Harald Poelchau, prison pastor between 1933 and 1945, in the cell block at Tegel prison, Gedenkstätte Deutscher Widerstand
Berlin, after 1945, Harald Poelchau, prison pastor between 1933 and 1945, in the cell block at Tegel prison, Gedenkstätte Deutscher Widerstand

Image: Berlin, 2008, Part of the exhibition at the Silent Heroes Memorial Center, GDW Berlin, Thomas Bruns
Berlin, 2008, Part of the exhibition at the Silent Heroes Memorial Center, GDW Berlin, Thomas Bruns
In many cases Jews in hiding and their helpers were denunciated and arrested by the Gestapo or members of the SS. In almost all of those cases being discovered was equal to a death sentence.
Image: Berlin, 1949, Hildegard Knies (1915–1997) with Evelyn Goldstein (*1938) whom she helped rescue, private ownership Evy Woods
Berlin, 1949, Hildegard Knies (1915–1997) with Evelyn Goldstein (*1938) whom she helped rescue, private ownership Evy Woods

Image: Berlin, 2008, Interactive media table at the Silent Heroes Memorial Center, GDW Berlin, Thomas Bruns
Berlin, 2008, Interactive media table at the Silent Heroes Memorial Center, GDW Berlin, Thomas Bruns
Up until the 1990s, there was little public interest for the »silent heroes« of the National Socialist period. The Silent Heroes Memorial Center was financed with funds from the German government and the Klassenlotterie Foundation Berlin; in 2008, it was opened in the historic »Haus Schwarzkopf« building in the Rosenthaler Straße in Berlin's Mitte district. Located in the same courtyard is the Otto Weidt Workshop for the Blind Museum and the Anne Frank Zentrum. The memorial is administered by the German Resistance Memorial Center and run by its staff. A permanent exhibition presents information about the persecution and deportation of Jews and about successful as well as unsuccessful rescue attempts. The exhibition is based on the results of a comprehensive research project conducted at the Centre for Research on Anti-Semitism at the Technical University Berlin. The memorial also collects documents and reports which may shed light on yet unknown helpers and rescuers.
Image: Berlin, 2008, Research terminal at the Silent Heroes Memorial Center, GDW Berlin, Thomas Bruns
Berlin, 2008, Research terminal at the Silent Heroes Memorial Center, GDW Berlin, Thomas Bruns

Image: Berlin, 2011, Entrance to the memorial center, Stiftung Denkmal
Berlin, 2011, Entrance to the memorial center, Stiftung Denkmal
Name
Gedenkstätte Stille Helden
Address
Rosenthaler Str. 39
10178 Berlin
Phone
+49 (0)30 234 579 19
Fax
+49 (0)30 234 579 39
Web
http://www.gedenkstaette-stille-helden.de
E-Mail
kosmala@gdw-berlin.de
Open
daily 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Possibilities
Permanent exhibition