4 May 2022: wreath laying and unveiling the stumbling stones on behalf of the UG

On 4 May 2022, 13 Stolpersteine (stumbling stones) will be unveiled on behalf of the University of Groningen (UG) to commemorate the 13 UG students and staff members who lost their lives in the Second World War. To commemorate the Second World War, a wreath will be laid at the monument in the Academy Building. The Board of the University will be present at the remembrance ceremony.

Before the unveiling of the Stolpersteine and the wreath laying, a gathering will take place in the Senate Room of the Academy Building. During the gathering, a moment of silence will be dedicated to the 13 staff members and students who fell victim to the war:

• Roelof van den Bergh - Stationsstraat 3
• J.F.S.N. Domela Nieuwenhuis Nyegaard - Pelsterstraat 44
• Willem Klaassen - Schuitendiep 1b
• Boris Kahn - Coendersweg 4/2
• Denis Mesritz - Oostersingel 130b
• Pieter Oosterlee - Oosterstraat 36a
• Benjamin Pais - Oude Kijk in ’t Jatstraat 69a
• Henriette Polak - Van Houtenlaan 52 (now Goeman Borgesiuslaan 38)
• Leonard Polak - Van Houtenlaan 52 (same as above)
• Leonard Polak Daniels - Eemskanaal Zuidzijde 3
• Samuel van Staveren - Oosterhaven 17a
• Meijer Stern - 2e Willemstraat 48b
• Max H. Zilverberg - Anna Paulownastraat 9a

Historian Stefan van der Poel and Rector Magnificus Cisca Wijmenga will talk about the victims in relation to the UG. The gathering will be attended by some of the victims’ surviving relatives.

Stolpersteine

Every year, after the gathering, the Board of the University lays a wreath at the memorial monument next to the staircase in the Academy Building to commemorate the war victims. Thereafter, the group will head to Oude Kijk in ‘t Jatstraat 69a, the last known address of Benjamin Pais, who was one of the victims. There, Rector Magnificus Wijmenga will place a Stolperstein.

Representatiefonds

The remembrance ceremony on 4 May is organized by the University’s Representatiefonds. The fund develops initiatives to increase the visibility of the University in the city of Groningen.

Municipal remembrance ceremony

Every year, the UG joins the municipal remembrance ceremony organized by Stichting 4 Mei Herdenking. The ceremony includes laying a wreath at the monument of St. Joris and the dragon in the Martinikerkhof, an event where Rector Magnificus Wijmenga will also be present.

Do you have any questions about the 4 May remembrance ceremonies at the UG? If so, please contact George Milder (UG Representatiefonds), george.mulder@rug.nl.