Bremen-West in Findorff, Germany — Central Europe

Familie-Schwarz-Platz

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, May 19, 2025

1. Familie-Schwarz-Platz Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Der Musiker Wilhelm Schwarz kam 1928 aus Metz nach Bremen, wo er später als Kraftfahrer arbeitete. Anna Marquart und Wilhelm Schwarz heirateten 1931 und lebten ab 1939 mit ihrer Familie in der Findorffstraße 99, direkt neben dem alten Schlachthof. Die älteste Tochter war bei Karstadt angestellt, die schulpflichtigen Kinder besuchten die Schule an der Gothaer Straße. Am 8. März 1943 wurden alle Mitglieder der Familie aufgrund ihrer Sinti-Zugehörigkeit verhaftet und in den Tagen darauf mit anderen Sinti und Roma aus Nordwestdeutschland vom Schlachthof in das Vernichtungslager Auschwitz-Birkenau deportiert. Tochter Anni überlebte als einzige ihrer Familie den Völkermord an den europäischen Sinti und Roma. Sie starb 2007 in Wolfsburg.

(English translation:)
The musician Wilhelm Schwarz came to Bremen from Metz in 1928, where he later worked as a driver. Anna Marquart and Wilhelm Schwarz married in 1931 and, from 1939, lived with their family at Findorffstrasse 99, right next to the old slaughterhouse. The eldest daughter worked at Karstadt, and their school-age children attended the school on Gothaer

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Strasse. On March 8, 1943, all members of the family were arrested for being Sinti and, in the days that followed, were deported from the slaughterhouse to the Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp along with other Sinti and Roma from northwest Germany. Daughter Anni was the only member of her family to survive the genocide of the European Sinti and Roma. She died in Wolfsburg in 2007.

In Gedenken an (In memory of):

Wilhelm Schwarz (1890-1943), Anna Schwarz (1901 - 1943), Gertrud Schwarz (1925 1944), Anni Grimm, geborene Schwarz (1926-2007), Albara Schwarz (1928-1944), Friedrich Schwarz (1929- 1943), Gisela Schwarz (1931 - 1943), Wilhelm Schwarz (1933 - 1943), Ilse Schwarz (1936 - 1943), Heinrich Schwarz (1938-1944), Adolf Schwarz (1940-1943), Ehrenfried Schwarz (1942-1943).

Erected 2022.

Topics and series. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, World II. In addition, it is included in the The Holocaust series list. A significant historical date for this entry is March 8, 1943.

Location. 53° 5.292′ N, 8° 48.594′ E. Memorial is in Bremen, in Findorff. It is in Bremen-West. It can be reached from Findorffstraße, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: Findorffstraße 51, Bremen 28215, Germany. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in Europe,

the European Union,

Atlantic Europe,

Central Europe,

the Schengen Area,

Western Europe,

and the Western World.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire

and specifically also the Holy Roman Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker

Familie-Schwarz-Platz Marker - wide view image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, May 19, 2025

2. Familie-Schwarz-Platz Marker - wide view

The marker is visible here on a rust-brown stela, on the north side of the Skatepark, just a bit south of the Schlachthof complex. It is not visible from the street.

: Bremen Roma and Sinti Deportation Memorial (here, next to this marker); Schlachthof (a few steps from this marker); Kurt von Goessel (within shouting distance of this marker); Stadtwerke / Municipal Utilities (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); Fruchthof (approx. half a kilometer away); Übersee-Museum / Overseas Museum (approx. 0.6 kilometers away); Bremen-Minsk Jewish Deportation Memorial (approx. 0.6 kilometers away); Hauptbahnhof / Main Railway Station (approx. 0.7 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bremen.

Also see . . . Der Familie-Schwarz-Platz (Kulturhaus Walle, in German). The QR code on the marker leads to a page with more information. Excerpt (in translation):

In 2021, at the initiative of the "Remembering March 1943" working group, the Findorff Advisory Board decided to name the forecourt of the Schlachthof cultural center "Familie Schwarz-Platz" (Family Schwarz Square). However, the Office for Road Construction and Transport has not yet approved an official naming, as it is a private square belonging to Bremer Messe GmbH. The Advisory Board and the working group nevertheless decided to name it and commissioned the installation of an information board and street signs. Familie Schwarz-Platz was officially inaugurated
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on September 11, 2022.

(Submitted on May 22, 2025.)

Additional keywords. Holocaust, porajmos, Gedenktafel

Credits. This page was last revised on May 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 22, 2025, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 84 times since then and 6 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 22, 2025, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.