The survival of Arthur and Eugenie Samuel in Cadenberge during the Nazi era represents a distinctive case; it could possibly also be seen as one of the very rare instances in which a Jewish or mixed-religion couple remained within their own community throughout that period, albeit under very stressful circumstances. As described in the previous chapters, the lives of the Samuels offer a poignant contrast to the horrific and escalating horrors that most Jewish communities suffered from 1933 to 1945 and even beyond.
This chapter is intended to help those who wish to further explore the history and lessons of the Holocaust, as presented in museums of various kinds, in memorial sites, on the residential streets of the victims' homes of the time, and now also on the Internet.
It seems particularly important to us that these historical resources also highlight the courage and strength of those who helped a small percentage of the pre-war European Jewish community to survive.
Flower painting by Else Voss. She was the daughter of Emilie, an older sister of Arthur. Emilie, Henry Irwig's grandmother, escaped the Holocaust by fleeing to South Africa. Else, on the other hand, was murdered in Auschwitz.
(Photo: Private)
Concentration Camp Memorial Sites:
Many of the former concentration camps in Germany and Eastern Europe have been repurposed and maintained as museums. They generally focus on the traumas associated with the transport of Jews and others to the camps, the horrors they experienced there, and the liberation of the few who survived. Almost 80 years after the liberation of the camps, the memorial sites continue to receive many visitors from all over the world, including children and young people from other European countries who come to pay homage to those killed and to alert themselves of the dangers posed by subservience to dictatorships.
- Information Portal to European Sites of Remembrancememorialmuseums.org)
- Auschwitz-Birkenau (auschwitz.org)
- Bergen-Belsen Memorialstiftung-ng.de)
- Buchenwald Memorialbuchenwald.de)
- Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Sitekz-gedenkstaette-dachau.de)
- Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museumsachsenhausen-sbg.de)
Other Jewish Museums:
Three museums are internationally recognized for their significance: one located in Berlin, Germany; another in Jerusalem, Israel; and a third in Washington, D.C., United States. In many respects the objectives of these museums are closely aligned, as each is fundamentally dedicated to addressing the prevention of persecution and genocide in the future.
Jewish Museum Berlin -
Perhaps the "trademark" of this museum is its permanent exhibition that focuses on the history of Jews in Germany from the Middle Ages to the present day. The museum is located in the heart of Berlin, in the Kreuzberg district, not far from Checkpoint Charlie and the former Berlin Wall. It was opened in 2001 after the completion of the landmark building designed by award-winning architect Daniel Libeskind, the son of Holocaust survivors.
United States Holocaust Museum –
In the United States, where many refugees from the Holocaust settled, there are numerous commemorative venues. Of particular importance is the museum in Washington, DC, which opened in 1993. The museum houses an unparalleled repository of Holocaust artifacts and documentation that records the fates of victims, survivors, rescuers, liberators, and others. The Holocaust Museum is located in the heart of the nation’s capital, close to the National Mall, around which many famous museums are grouped, and not far from the Washington Monument.
Yad Vashem Memorial Center –
Yad Vashem is Israel's official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. It is dedicated to commemorating the Jews who were murdered and to honoring both Jews who fought against their Nazi oppressors and those of other faiths who selflessly helped Jews in need. Established in 1953, the Yad Vashem complex is located in Jerusalem, the Holy City, on the western slope of Mount Herzl also known as the Mount of Remembrance.
Holocaust Memorials:
Throughout the Western world, memorials have been created to commemorate those who were murdered in the Holocaust. Their designs are different – ranging from the monumental to the aspirational to those involving more of a “personal” character.
Holocaust Memorial in Berlin.
(Source: pixabay)
Monumental... Berlin's Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe –
It's impossible to miss: The "Field of Stelae" with more than 2,500 geometrically arranged concrete pillars stretches over almost five hectares between the Brandenburg Gate and the newly built Potsdamer Platz. The monument permits entry from each of its four sides, providing visitors the opportunity to traverse the unevenly sloping field. "Wandering" between the variously sized stelae is intentionally confusing in order to evoke the sense of abandonment that the Jewish community felt during the Nazi era. The adjacent underground museum contains more personal details, such as the names of all identified Jewish victims of the Holocaust and curated accounts of their deportation routes.
New England Holocaust Memorial in Boston, USA; built with the participation of Arthur Samuel's great-nephew, Henry Irwig.
(Source: Stanley Saitowitz/Natoma Architects. We thank you very much.)
Aspirational... New England Holocaust Memorial –
In sharp contrast to Berlin's field of stelae is the architecture of the New England Holocaust Memorial with its unique series of six glass towers. They are situated within a very narrow strip of land in the historic core of Boston, possibly the most revered city in the USA. Adjacent to Boston's historic Freedom Trail and across from the architecturally renowned Boston City Hall, the glass towers stand as beacons of hope as they rest over dark pits of despair that represent the six death camps in Poland. The memorial was designed by the winner of a major international competition, the architect Stanley Saitowitz. And it was built under the supervision of Arthur Samuel's great-nephew, Henry Irwig.
Personal... Stolpersteine –
One may not notice these monuments when walking through German cities. The Stolpersteine, literally translated as “stumbling stones”, are small brass plaques embedded in the cobblestones of sidewalks and footpaths, typically positioned very near the entrances of buildings formerly occupied by individual victims of the Holocaust. The Stolperstein project, initiated by the German artist Gunter Demnig, pays tribute to each of these people personally, shows their name and gives a brief description of their fate. At present, thousands of Stolpersteine have been installed throughout Germany – and in numerous other European cities – and there are two of special interest in Hüls, the birthplace of Arthur Samuel. One for each of his nephews who survived the hardships of captivity and the cruelty of the Nazi henchmen.
The Internet – Survivors and Rescuers:
While capturing and anchoring history in museums and memorials is very important, it is at least equally important to appreciate the philosophies and ways of life of those who survived the travails of the Nazi era and those who helped them to survive. The Internet provides easy access to first-hand accounts of survivors' experiences as well as reports of individuals who demonstrated considerable courage in safeguarding their Jewish neighbors.
Rescuer...
The courage of the rescuers is perhaps best captured in the archives of the Yad Vashem Remembrance Center, which honored them as "The Righteous Among the Nations." Particularly noteworthy are the almost 500 German citizens who have been acknowledged in this manner and whose acts of bravery are documented under their names at the first web address listed below. Further information on the archive can be found at the second Internet address, where one can also find narratives about the celebrated Francis Foley, Oskar Schindler, Chiune Sugihara and Raoul Wallenberg.
And then there are also the not-so-famous or celebrated people whose selfless actions have been forgotten over the years and whose names are not anchored in memorials or documented on the Internet.
As an example, this website honors those in Cadenberge who tacitly provided help and support to Arthur and Eugenie during the dark years of the 1930s and 1940s.
Survivors...
The courage of the survivors can be found on many pages of the Internet. Arguably the most comprehensive sources of audiovisual materials, however, are the archives of the United States Holocaust Museum and Yad Vashem. Both provide searchable databases that can be accessed using the following Internet links.
- https://www.yadvashem.org/collections/testimonies.html
- https://collections.ushmm.org/search/?f%5Bf_testimony%5D%5B%5D=avinterviews&f%5Brecord_type_facet%5D%5B%5D=Oral+History&per_page=50&sort=score+desc
In the entries there, the number of testimonies made to fulfill promises to murdered family members is particularly striking.
Again and again the special importance of refraining from harboring hatred and instead adopting a forward-looking perspective is emphasized. These two traits also characterize the life of Arthur Samuel. It is perhaps these two concepts that are most important in ensuring that the horrors of the Nazi era are not forgotten and, above all, not repeated.
And so, this website preserves another series of memories, those that tell of Arthur and Eugenie Samuel and their fellow citizens in the small community of Cadenberge in Lower Saxony.
Our project is the result of a happy coincidence that brought two dedicated German brothers from a small town into contact with an American collaborator. Together, the three of them took the initiative to create this website. And one of the strongest connections between them was that all three, at different stages of their lives, experienced first-hand the humanity of the lonely Jewish gentleman who survived the Nazi era in Cadenberge.
We knew Arthur Samuel.