Memorial plaque unveiled in Sachsenhausen concentration camp in honor of Azerbaijani prisoners
On May 4, a memorial plaque dedicated to Azerbaijani prisoners was unveiled at the Sachsenhausen concentration camp in Germany. Initiated and supported by the Embassy of Azerbaijan to Germany, the plaque was prepared in both Azerbaijani and German and has been inscribed on the wall of the Sachsenhausen Memorial Complex.
The official unveiling was carried out by Nasimi Aghayev, Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Germany, and Axel Drecoll, Director of the Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum.
More than 200,000 people were imprisoned in the Sachsenhausen camp, located near Berlin, between 1936 and 1945. Tens of thousands of prisoners died due to horrific torture, inhumane conditions, or were brutally murdered by the Nazis. The camp was equipped with gas chambers, execution walls, and a crematorium for the systematic killing of inmates. It was liberated in April 1945 by Soviet and Polish forces.
Research conducted by the Azerbaijani Embassy in the Sachsenhausen archives revealed that Azerbaijani prisoners had been held in the camp. As a result, agreement was reached with the Memorial Complex to install the commemorative plaque.
In his speech, ambassador Nasimi Aghayev highlighted Azerbaijan's significant contribution to the victory over fascism. He noted that 700,000 Azerbaijanis fought on the front lines against fascism, with 300,000 of them perishing. The ambassador emphasized Azerbaijan’s vital role on the home front as well, noting that 80% of the gasoline used by the Soviet army during the war was produced by Azerbaijani oil workers.
Ambassador Aghayev stressed that the Embassy remains committed to researching the fate of Azerbaijanis held in German camps during World War II and to preserving their memory. He stated that the unveiling of memorial plaques last year in Dachau and now in Sachsenhausen reflects a systematic effort in this regard. He expressed gratitude to the leadership of the Memorial Complex for their tireless efforts to ensure the suffering of the prisoners and the crimes committed against them are not forgotten.
Axel Drecoll, director of the Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum, emphasized the importance of commemorating the Azerbaijani victims who suffered and perished in the camp, and underlined the symbolic significance of the ceremony.
Then, a musical composition was then performed, and commemorative photos were taken.
