Remembrance Day in Esslingen: Remembrance with a view to current crises

Remembrance Day in Esslingen: Remembrance with a view to current crises

On Remembrance Day, a significant day of remembrance, a venerable ceremony took place in Esslingen on November 16, 2025. Among those present were the CDU Bundestag member Davidpreisedanz and Mayor Matthias Klopfer, who warmly welcomed those gathered. In his speech, Preisdanz referred to the current geopolitical tensions and called for the commemoration of the dead not to be seen as a mere rite of remembrance. He warned urgently against forgetting history and against current threats, especially in view of Russian aggression against Ukraine. “It should not be forgotten what atrocities are carried out in the name of a cold-blooded policy,” he declared, even criticizing a politician who advocates a “policy of ‘well-tempered cruelty’.” Esslinger Zeitung reports that...

A touching moment was the quote from Holocaust survivor Margot Friedländer, who pointed out the deep social divisions. preisedanz presented Remembrance Day as a day of reconciliation and hope and cited the example of Yonatan Zeigen, whose mother was murdered by Hamas. Yonatan advocates for peace and reconciliation and thus illustrates how important remembrance is in the present time.

A symbolic honor

The commemoration ceremony in Esslingen also included a tribute to the dead, which was carried out by Luisa Esposito, a member of the local youth council. Pastoral officer Raphael Maier from the entire Catholic parish said a devotional prayer. Traditionally, a wreath was laid at the soldiers' graves in the Ebershalden cemetery, accompanied by musical accompaniment by a string quartet, trumpeter Sebastian Krech and the Weingärtner-Liederkranz. These powerful contributions added to the celebratory atmosphere of the event.

Remembrance Day is celebrated not only in Esslingen, but also throughout Germany. Tagesschau reports that… On Remembrance Day on November 19, 2023, Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria gave a speech in the Bundestag in which she addressed the responsibility resulting from the current conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. She addressed the “icy mood” in the world and called for the protection of all civilians and compliance with international humanitarian law. Their appeal not to forget the lessons of war and tyranny was well received.

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also appeared at another commemoration in the Bundestag, who commemorated the victims of terrorism, extremism, anti-Semitism and racism in Germany. The commemoration highlighted the challenges facing society and reminded everyone present that it is essential to stand up for peace and freedom.