"No end" to the murderous acts of the so-called National Socialist Underground (NSU) - that was the motto for the opening of the new documentation center. From now on, it will commemorate the victims of right-wing terror, the background and the failures of the security authorities in Chemnitz. At the same time, it is dedicated to the tasks that arise for a defensive democracy. At the inauguration at noon, the names of all ten victims of the NSU were read out loud and repeated by the participants.
Abdulla Özkan, a victim of the nail bomb attack in Cologne on June 9, 2004, said: "This act not only changed my life, but that of many people in our community forever." We must not forget that the responsibility for such acts also lies with politicians. It is not enough just to document. "We must not forget what was and is also part of our reality: Why were the perpetrators of the NSU not investigated earlier? Why did people look away for years, cover up and fail?"
At the end, relatives and victims took to the stage and made several demands, including full access to the files, adequate compensation, sustainable help for victims of just acts of violence and training for government employees to reduce discrimination and prejudice. "We hope that this documentation center will become a place of learning, healing and justice," said Özkan.
Pilot project for central center on NSU complex
Chemnitz and Zwickau were once retreats of the NSU. The core trio of Uwe Mundlos, Uwe Bönhardt and Beate Zschäpe lived here undisturbed for years, had numerous supporters and organized their series of murders of at least ten people - the victims were eight small business owners of Turkish origin, one of Greek origin and a policewoman. The trio is also responsible for a number of robberies and several bomb attacks.
