Aachen, North Rhine-Wetphalia, Germany — Central Europe
Aachen Hauptbahnhof / Aachen Main Railway Station
— Wege gegen das Vergessen 1933-1945 Aachen —
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, October 21, 2023
1. Aachen Hauptbahnhof / Aachen Main Railway Station Marker
25. März 1942 in den Osten
22. April 1942 nach Izbica
15. Juni 1942 nach Izbica
25. Juli 1942 nach Theresienstadt
11. September 1942 nach Theresienstadt
Dezember 1943 nach Theresienstadt
September 1944 nach Theresienstadt
For many people, from 1933 onwards, Aachen Central Station was the last German stop on their escape from National Socialist persecution. They fled to Belgium, France, Great Britain, the Netherlands, the USA, Palestine... For many people, the train stations were also the first stop on their journey of abduction and deportation. From 1942 onwards,
this page online
March 25, 1942 to the East
April 22, 1942 to Izbica
June 15, 1942 to Izbica
July 25, 1942 to Theresienstadt
September 11, 1942 to Theresienstadt
December 1943 to Theresienstadt
September 1944 to Theresienstadt
Erected by Wege gegen das Vergessen. (Marker Number 05.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Railroads & Streetcars • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the The Holocaust series list. A significant historical date for this entry is March 25, 1942.
Location. 50° 46.1′ N, 6° 5.466′ E. Marker is in Aachen, Nordrhein-Westfalen (North Rhine-Wetphalia). Marker is on Bahnhofplatz, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Aachen HE 52064, Germany. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Mord an Behinderten / The Murder of the Disabled (within shouting distance of this marker); Alemannia Aachen Football - Main Station / Hauptbahnhof (within shouting distance of this marker); Der schnitzende Pennsoldat / The Whittling Soldier (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Kreuzigungsgruppe Henger Herrjotts Fott / Crucifixion Tableau “Behind the Lord’s Buttocks” (approx.
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, October 21, 2023
2. Aachen Hauptbahnhof / Aachen Main Railway Station Marker - wide view
More about this marker. The marker is mounted to the exterior of the station a bit to the left of the main entrance.
Also see . . . Hauptbahnhof (Wege gegen das Vergessen, in German). For each of their 40+ markers, Wege gegen das Vergessen (“Ways Against Forgetting”) presents a page on their website with extended information on each marker‘s subject.
Deportations (in translation): It began when the Jewish residents of Aachen were no longer allowed to stay in their own apartments and houses, but were instead put into collection camps. One of these camps was on Grüner Weg. From there the Jewish victims were driven to the nearest tram stop under SS and police guard. They were then taken in special cars to Aachen Central Station, where the deportation trains, which consisted of freight wagons, were already waiting for them. Often it then went towards Düsseldorf, where the trains from different places were put together to form a large transport. Everything was taken care of – including the transport costs. According to the tariff of III. Class 4 Reichspfennigs were charged per person per kilometer. The Reichsbahn agreed with the SS that at least 400 people would be transported. As a rule, however, the trains, which consisted of up to 45 freight cars, were occupied by 1,000 people. Towards the end of the war, 2,000 - 3,000 people were crammed into the freight cars. Four people in one square meter. Without adequate nutrition, without toilets. And the journeys took days. It's hard to imagine what it was like for the people in the wagons.(Submitted on October 21, 2023.)
The victims had to pay the fare themselves. All Aachen citizens of the Jewish faith were deported during the Second World War - if they had not found safety beforehand. A total of seven transports traveled from Aachen to the concentration and extermination camps. Four of them came from the camp on Grüner Weg. Almost all members of Aachen's Jewish community lost their homeland in this way, were murdered and buried in the mass graves of the concentration camps...
Additional keywords. Holocaust
Credits. This page was last revised on October 21, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 21, 2023, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 49 times since then and 5 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 21, 2023, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
