Holocaust survivor helps dedicate mass grave at U.S. airfield in Germany

STUTTGART ARMY AIRFIELD, Germany — A survivor of seven Nazi labor and concentration camps made good on a promise he made years ago to fellow prisoners when he gave the closing prayer at a Holocaust mass grave here April 15.

Benjamin Gelhorn, 86, said he was the “most happiest man” to give the Kaddish prayer at the placement of gravestones ceremony for 34 Jewish victims at the former World War II forced labor camp known as KZ (concentration camp) Echterdingen.

“The Lord gave me the power to be here in 2007 and to make the Kaddish (prayer) for these people,” Gelhorn said. “I’m really happy I’m alive.”

The 86-year old, who received his “142906” tattoo at the Auschwitz camp in Poland, said there was a pact among the laborers that if one of them was alive they would give the final prayer at “the real funeral.”

The remains of 34 Jewish forced laborers were discovered on the U.S. airfield in September 2005 during a construction project to upgrade the access control point. The remains were re-interred Dec. 15, 2005, during a ceremony attended by Rabbis from many countries, including Israel. On International Holocaust Remembrance Day, or Yom HaShoa, the gravestones of the unidentified victims were dedicated according to Jewish tradition.

In all, 211 Jewish prisoners died at this camp during the winter of 1944 to 1945.

The solemn ceremony concluded as more than 200 mourners participated in the Jewish tradition of placing stones on the gravestones. Gelhorn, who spent three months at the KZ Echterdingen camp in 1939, placed a stone from the former Buchenwald Concentration Camp in east-central Germany, where he was liberated by U.S. forces in April 1945.
The ceremony was arranged by the Israelite Religious Community of Württemberg (IRCW) and supported by the State Ministry of Baden-Württemberg and the Filderstadt and Leinfelden-Echterdingen communities.

Unveiled to the public for the first time, each grave marker features the Star of David on top and a Hebrew inscription on the bottom. The middle of the gravestones is blank, because the identities of these victims are unknown.

Located just inside the airfield entrance, the Holocaust mass grave will serve as a reminder to U.S. troops “of our enduring mandate to protect freedom and democracy” and ensure that future generations will live in peace, said Army Brig. Gen. William C. Mayville, U.S. European Command Deputy Director of Operations.

Mayville said it is fitting that a representative of the American community — a community that has lived in partnership with its German hosts for more than 60 years — be present at this observance. He said the partnership is built upon common values, a belief in democratic principles, and renewed optimism for a better world.

“United under NATO, the militaries of our two great nations stand steadfast in the defense of freedom, democracy and the sovereignty of our friends and allies,” Mayville said. “We confront willingly those that do not recognize international law, international norms of behavior, and who would gladly choose to overthrow the ideals of democracy by terror or intimidation.”

Over the years the American communities in Baden-Württemberg have grown to more than 48,000 U.S. military, civilians, retirees and family members, with 17,000 in the Stuttgart area alone, the general noted.

While this event provides “final closure” for the victims, it marks the beginning of a “long-term, positive partnership” between the U.S. military and the Israelite Religious Community of Württemberg, noted Dr. Stephen Cochrane, U.S. Forces Liaison Officer, Baden-Württemberg.

Cochrane, who worked the specifics of the memorial ceremony in close coordination with the State Ministry and IRCW, said the U.S. forces now share in the responsibility of caring for the gravesite.

He said the U.S. now has the role to ensure the deceased receive the proper respect and are “left alone and have permanent, eternal peace.” The Jewish community is pleased the gravesite will be protected and that the IRCW will have control of access in coordination with the U.S. forces, Cochrane added.

Source: EUCOM

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