Review of Educational Trip to Auschwitz
From September 23rd to 27th, 26 employees from various companies, institutions, and foundations from across Germany participated in the first educational trip organized by the Finkelstein Foundation to the State Museum Auschwitz and Oświęcim in Poland.
Picture of the prisoners of the Auschwitz II Birkenau camp complex at today's memorial site. © Mascha Wilke
The program included an exploration of the city of Oświęcim and its historical development into the "model city" of Auschwitz, followed by visits to various camp complexes, including Auschwitz I - Main Camp, Auschwitz III Monowitz, and Auschwitz II Birkenau. Participants had an opportunity for dialogue and reflection.
Representatives from Bayer AG, Wintershall Dea, Barmenia, the Gustav Stresemann Institute, the Hertie Foundation, the Schering Foundation, the Foundation EVZ, the German Chemicals Industry Association (VCI) and Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
Different perspectives and backgrounds enriched the discussion.
"More than a place. A memorial to what happens when humanity dies. Nothing can prepare you for the feelings that arise when you stand in front of the walls that led millions of people to their deaths. You leave Auschwitz, but it stays with you forever.
Iva Vacheva-Spanidis, the German Chemicals Industry Association (VCI)
"I was sure that I had known a lot about this time. At the end, I was surprised that a lot of information was, in fact, new to me."
Rüdiger Vollborn, Bayer 04 Leverkusen
"The visit to the Auschwitz Memorial changed me. As an employee and as a human, I feel obliged to recognize and remember this unimaginable suffering."
Daniela Neuendorf, Bayer AG
The trip was organized in collaboration with what matters gGmbH and the World Jewish Congress, with a focus on the role of I.G. Farben in history. The educational trip is part of the commemorative projects of the Finkelstein Foundation, which particularly addresses the topics of Nazi forced labor and the I.G. Farbenindustrie AG, or I.G. Farben.
The Hans and Berthold Finkelstein Foundation plans to conduct this type of trip annually.
