REMEMBRANCE CONNECTS

Międzyrzecz, 18 March 2026

The kick-off conference for the German-Polish project „Living Places of Remembrance“ („Żywe miejsca Pamięci“) took place at the Międzyrzecz City Library on March 18, 2026. Representatives of the project partners, from municipalities, cultural and memorial institutions, and the Interreg programme Brandenburg–Poland presented the objectives and planned activities.

The focus of the cooperation is the cross-border remembrance of the Nazi „euthanasia“ murders, as well as making visible the traces of Jewish life in the border region. The partners link historical reappraisal with educational and memorial offerings that are intended to be accessible and inclusive in the long term.

Following the opening by Katarzyna Szadkowska (City of Międzyrzecz, Head of the Department of Economic Development), the Mayor Remigiusz Lorenz In his opening address, [he/she/they] highlighted the responsibility to draw consequences from history for the present and future. [He/She/They] thanked those involved for their commitment and emphasised that the project aims to keep memories alive and strengthen solidarity.

„We cannot change what has happened in the past, but let us allow the memory of those events to change us – to make us more sensitive, more responsible, and more united when it comes to helping other people.“ (Mayor Remigiusz Lorenz)

The project partners then reported on their locations and project content:

• Ewa Walkowska (Międzyrzecz Municipality) – Historical Context and Local Partners
• Anna Chinalska & Cezary Wysocki (Lubusz Voivodeship) – Investments at the historic Obrawalde Cemetery
• Gunnar Betz (Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf District) – Town Twinning and Youth Exchange
• Jörg Krüger & Dirk Röder (City of Seelow) – Remembering Jewish Life, the „Memories Connect“ Brand and International Networking
• Antje Fröhlich (Town of Ueckermünde Seaside Resort) – Permanent Exhibition on Nazi Medical Murder and Digital Networking
• Rostock University Medicine / Dirk Röder representing Dr. Kathleen Haack – Scientific Project Management
• Brandenburg Memorials Foundation / Gunnar Betz representing – „silenced“ exhibition and new forms of remembrance

Following this, the project partners signed the partnership agreement for the project.

The conference concluded with an excursion to the memorial site and former cemetery at the hospital in Obrzyce. At these special locations, Katarzyna Sztuba-Frąckowiak, who specialises in documenting the crimes committed by the National Socialists against the hospital's patients, gave a lecture.

We thank the city of Międzyrzecz for the organisation and hospitality.