Bad Sulza am 11. April 2008

Bad Sulza war von 1940 bis 1945 Sitz des Stammlagers der Wehrmacht IX C und verwaltete in dieser Eigenschaft bis zu 50.000 Kriegsgefangene, die in einer großen Anzahl von Außenlagern zum Einsatz gelangten. Dies ist ein wichtiger Anlass dafür, dass die Stadt Bad Sulza und ihre Bürger offiziell und erstmals am Freitag, den 11. April 2008 einen Gedenktag aus Anlass des Einmarsches der amerikanischen Armee im Jahr 1945 veranstalteten.

Etwa fünfzig polnische Gäste, viele davon Kriegsveteranen des Warschauer Aufstandes, von denen einer auch für einige Tage in Bad Sulza gefangengehalten wurde, sowie eine Vertreterin der polnischen Botschafterin, Frau Sokolowska, wie auch eine Abordnung von zehn russischen Gästen, sechs davon Kriegsveteranen, ein Vertreter des russischen Generalkonsulats und sieben Vertreter der Landstreitkräfte der US Armee gedachten gemeinsam mit den Bad Sulzaer Bürgern dieses Tages. Chaplain Bailey als Stellvertreter der US-Landstreitkräfte Europas nahm am Abend bei einer öffentlichen Gedenkveranstaltung den Dank Bad Sulzas wie auch der Kriegsgefangenen für die Befreiung durch Herrn Bürgermeister Hertwig entgegen.

Die US-Armee zog am 11. April 1945 gegen Mittag in Bad Sulza ein. Die Truppen, die das Lager befreiten, waren Durchzugstruppen. Sie zogen, als das Kriegsgefangenenlager befreit war, weiter Richtung Naumburg. Die nachfolgenden englischen und amerikanischen Besatzungstruppen blieben, bis die sowjetische Armee Anfang Juli 1945 nachrückte.

Ohne eine Unterstützung vieler Sponsoren hätte die Veranstaltung nicht stattfinden können: Herr Renkel, Reinheim, die Kurgesellschaft und die Stadt Bad Sulza, die Bad Sulzaer Gaststätten Am Schwanenteich, Stadt Bad Sulza, Sonnenburg, Il Ristorante Toskana und Zum Wassermann, das Arthotel Weimar, das Hotel an der Therme, das Landhotel Marie, die Pension Hebestreidt, die Kurklinik Sophie, das Klinikzentrum Bad Sulza, die Toskana Therme, Taxiunternehmen Estel, Wissenschaft – Fortbildung – Praxis e.V. Bad Sulza, die Kreisvolkshochschule Weimarer Land, Pastorin Schlenker, Udo Wohlfeld, das Taxiunternehmen Frank Hüttig, das Technische Hilfswerk Niedertrebra und Günter Kaspaul, die Bäckerei Hamdorf, Julian Reisenberger, Christina Burkanow, Adam Gibasiewicz, Micky Remann, Ronny Weiland, Valentina Ustenko sowie die Vereinsbrauerei Apolda.

Sehen Sie hier den Fernsehbeitrag zur Veranstaltung

Fotos zur Veranstaltung sehen Sie hier
Weitere Fotos sehen Sie hier

Ruth-Barbara Schlenker, Pastorin in Niedertrebra bei Bad Sulza,
Mitglied des Vereins „Geschichtswerkstatt Weimar/Apolda e.V.“
Tag der Befreiung – für wen? Und für wen nicht?

Bad Sulza Commemoration Day - 11 April 2008
Remarks by Chaplain (Colonel) Charles R. Bailey
Command Chaplain
United States Army, Europe and Seventh Army

•  Mayor Johannes Hertwig, Frau Marion Schneider, Veterans and members of the Russian and Polish delegations, other distinguished guests, Soldiers from the 1st Armored Division, ladies and gentlemen.
•  Good morning. It is a real privilege for me to be with you today as a part of this important ceremony. On behalf of GEN McKiernan, Commanding General, United States Army Europe, I especially thank Mayor Johannes Hertwig and Frau Marion Schneider for inviting us to attend this historic event.
•  Although today’s ceremony is to honor the memory of those American Soldiers who liberated Bad Sulza and Stalag IX-C, our very presence here simultaneously honors the memory of thousands of prisoners of war who suffered tremendously in captivity here. But it also honors the current relationship we enjoy with our hosts - our friends and allies, citizens of a free, democratic and unified Federal Republic of Germany - who so appropriately saw fit to remember these events and the involvement of those before me in them (look at veterans).
•  In this respect, this event honors you as well - the citizens of Bad Sulza - who recognize that the priceless gift of freedom is a gift to be treasured.
•  Thank you for your strong commitment to freedom and for creating such an important and historical memorial.
•  A memorial that bears witness to the high cost of failure in preventing tyranny and oppression.
•  May the reflections it stirs, although somber and perhaps painful, be a constant inspiration to all of us to continue to stand for freedom and liberty, whatever the cost.
•  Thank you, each of you, for being here to honor the sacrifices so many have made.
•  This site is an important one. It provides us with visible evidence of the sacrifices that Allied service members from many nations were willing to make for the cause of freedom.
•  On April the 11th, 1945, the United States Army’s 6th Armored Division, part of General George S. Patton’s famous Third Army, advanced 60 miles to cross the Saale River. That same day, they liberated the town of Bad Sulza and Stalag-IXC, an Allied Prisoner of War (POW) camp, and the concentration camp at Buchenwald, 5 kilometers NW of Weimar.
•  In 1945, the average age of 6th Armored Division Soldiers was 23. Nearly all were just regular citizens who interrupted their civilian lives and careers to fight in World War II.
•  Although these Americans were protected from the Nazi menace by an ocean, they still chose to give all they had – their very lives if necessary - to rid Europe of the cancer of totalitarianism.
•  What motivated these heroic young men and women over 60 years ago? The very same ideals that our Soldiers today hold dear – the call of duty, the spirit of comradeship, the responsibility of selflessness, and the willingness to sacrifice.
•  In the words of President Dwight D. Eisenhower they came for one purpose only – “not to gain anything for themselves…but just to preserve freedom.”
•  These extraordinary young Americans liberated not just suffering American prisoners, but those from Poland, Russia, France, and Britain among others with whom they had fought, suffered, and died side-by- side with.
•  Their shared experience, and courage, is reflected here today. With us is Russian Alexej Voloschin, who was recognized for his actions and awarded the “Silver Star” by order of America’s President Roosevelt. The Silver Star is the third highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States Armed Forces and the third highest award given for valor in the face of the enemy.
•  In the six decades since then, a new democratic and free Germany and the United States have themselves become close friends and allies.
•  Despite having drifted away at times from partnerships with our traditional allies, we realize now that we need and depend upon each other and are committed to honoring and building these renewed friendships.
•  Today, the United States benefits from strong partner relationships that USAREUR has developed with our regional friends and allies. Indeed, maintaining these relationships is one of USAREUR’s top priorities.
•  Your presence here today – young and not so young; military and civilian; American and European – makes clear that some things are just as important today as they were sixty years ago when the world was locked in a struggle between good and evil.
•  Our collective presence today demonstrates our commitment to remember all that we owe to those who have gone before us.
•  It is important to not only recognize their service but to respect their devotion to duty and to ensure that the purpose for which they fought will never be forgotten.
•  It also emphasizes that we, Americans and Europeans alike, share a common heritage of striving to ensure freedom for those who are oppressed, and of a willingness to sacrifice to ensure liberties for those who have not yet been born.
•  We are reminded that we share more similarities than differences. Today, as then, we can work together to make the world a better and safer place for all.
•  Our debt to the valiant men and women prisoners of war, who were held here for their service to our nations and the noble cause of freedom, can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude.
•  May God bless them and may God bless you for caring enough to be here today.

Diese Rede von Chaplain (Colonel) Charles Bailey, Command Chaplain, United States Army, Europe and Seventh Army zum Download (in englisch)

Bad Sulza Commemoration Day - 11 April 2008
Closing Remarks by Chaplain (Colonel) Charles R. Bailey

• Thank you for the honor you have bestowed on the U.S. Army this day. This day has been a wonderful day full of memories and gratitude.
• I didn’t prepare any formal remarks because I wanted to share what I have seen, felt, and heard as we shared this day.
• I have seen tears shed by Germans.
  I have seen tears shed by Polish.
  I have seen tears shed by Russians.
  I have seen tears shed by Americans.
• I have also heard laughter by Germans.
  I have also heard laughter by Polish.
  I have also heard laughter by Russians.
  I have also heard laughter by Americans.
• Tears and laughter are the two ingredients for healing the spirit. Their power is so great that they will heal the soul and memories.
• We have remembered much today. We have remembered the pain, sacrifice, and love of our people. We have shared honor.
• This day I declare that Bad Sulza is a place of peace.
  This day I declare that Bad Sulza is a place of honor.
  This day I declare that Bad Sulza is a place of forgiveness.
  This day I declare that Bad Sulza is a place of healing.
• God Bless You.

Biographie von Chaplain (Colonel) Charles R. Bailey zum Download (in englisch)
 
The Wartime Memories Project - STALAG 9c POW Camp

Presseartikel:

TLZ, 11. April 2008
Kurstadt gedenkt erstmals der Befreier
US-Army zog am 11. April in Bad Sulza ein

TLZ, 12. April 2008
Erste Begegnung seit über 60 Jahren
Die Bad Sulzaer gedachten ihrer Befreier

Thüringer Allgemeine, 11. April 2008
Neuentdeckte Geschichte
Ausstellung zu Kriegsgefangenenlager deckt neue Fakten zur Befreiung
Bad Sulzas auf

Apoldaer Allgemeine, 12. April 2008
Erinnerung wach halten
Veteranen, Bad Sulzaer und ihre Gäste weihten gestern einen Weg ein,
der an die NS-Kriegsgefangenenlager erinnern soll.