Remembering Rüdiger Borstel  

Rüdiger Borstel studied History, Prehistoric and Protohistoric Archeology, and Art History in Cologne and Bonn. Following his initial professional activities as an archaeologist in Krefeld-Gellep, he transitioned to Bayer AG in 1989, where he was first a member of the plant manager's staff and later employed in the communication center. From 2000 to the end of 2024, he shaped the work of Bayer’s archive in his role of corporate historian in the area of Heritage Communications. In this role, he was responsible for all issues concerning the reparations paid to forced laborers and headed up the International Archives Project. 

Rüdiger's expertise was impressive, ranging from the history of I.G. Farben, the National Socialist era, and World War I. He dedicated two decades to delving into the biography of Dr. Hans Finkelstein – research which laid the groundwork for our foundation.
Rüdiger fought tirelessly for the historical analysis of National Socialist crimes. He secured documents and advocated passionately for remembrance and against all forms of discrimination. His guiding principle was:

"Only reconstructing the few tangible fates that remain from that period, keeping them alive, and remembering them will allow us to truly learn from history. This remembrance builds our resistance against the challenges emerging again today such as hatred and anti-Semitic tendencies – and allows us to take active countermeasures."

Rüdiger continued to dedicate his energy to our foundation following his retirement in December 2024. As a member of our Advisory Council, he supported us with research, contacts, and his own initiatives such as lectures and the installation of Stolpersteine memorial stones. His knowledge, warmth, and passion both enriched and inspired our work. According to his wishes, we will continue his work, broadening the research on Hans and Berthold Finkelstein and driving projects focusing on remembrance and strengthening social resilience forward.

We extend our deepest sympathy to his wife Pegi and his entire family. May Rüdiger's memory be a blessing and at the same time encourage us to forge ahead with his work.  

Dear Rüdiger, you will continue to guide us with your words and your work. We are grateful that we had the opportunity to meet you – as a colleague, a friend, and a tireless fighter for humanity. 

Annemarie Hühne-Ramm, Managing Director of the Hans and Berthold Finkelstein Foundation on behalf of all its employees and Advisory Council members