In the heart of Hagenow, Germany, amidst cobblestone streets and historic buildings, lived a young Jewish toddler, Hanna Meinungen. Hagenow, once home to a vibrant Jewish community dating back to 1764, bore witness to the tumultuous events of history, including the tragic November 1938 Pogrom, known as "Kristallnacht," which forever altered the course of Jewish life across much of Europe under the Third Reich.
Born in 1940 to Hermann and Kathe Meinungen, Hanna's life was cut short as she fell victim to the horrors of the Holocaust. Alongside her parents, Hanna was deported from her home to Hamburg, Germany on 10 July 1942. The very next day, 11 July 1942, the Meinungen family was deported once again but this time their destination would be to a place from which they would never return – Auschwitz-Birkenau. It was there, at the tender age of two, that Hanna was murdered.
Hanna is one of the 1.5 million Jewish children whose lives were cut short by Nazi racial ideology. Yet, amidst the darkness, there emerged a glimmer of light. Though the Jewish community never returned to Hagenow, their legacy endured. The synagogue, once a target of violence, was restored and preserved, eventually transformed into the Hanna Meinungen Haus — a living testament to the indomitable spirit of remembrance. The cultural center has become a hub for events that celebrate diversity and understanding.
Recently, Minister of Education and Daycare Facilities for Children of the Federal State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Simone Oldenburg visited Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem, where she signed a Joint Declaration of Intent — denoting their renewed dedication to educating future generations about the Holocaust.
During the ceremony, Yad Vashem's Director of Global Initiatives, Richelle Budd Caplan, recalled Hanna Meinungen's story and emphasized the importance of ensuring that the Holocaust is never forgotten. "We must remember Hanna's story," she emphasized, "to prevent history from repeating itself and to safeguard the futures of generations to come."
In a remarkable twist of fate, Heiko Schon, a member of Minister Oldenburg's delegation, revealed his personal connection to Hanna's story. A native of Hagenow, Schon's mother had once worked in that very synagogue after the war, during the GDR period when it served as a grain storage facility. He spoke passionately about how the community has since repurposed the building as a tribute to Hanna's memory.
For over three decades, Yad Vashem has been working with Ministries of Education, schools and educational organizations across Germany and the world, developing pedagogical methodologies aimed at raising awareness of the history of the Holocaust, combating prejudice and fostering empathy in classrooms worldwide. The signing of this Joint Declaration with the German Federal State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern against the backdrop of Hanna's memory, is just one example of the important work that Yad Vashem engages in on a daily basis. It serves as a poignant reminder of the power of Holocaust education and rememberance to shape a better tomorrow.
Hanna's story reminds us that the legacy of the Holocaust is not confined to the pages of history, but rather lives on in the hearts and minds of those who strive to ensure that such atrocities never happen again. Through education and remembrance, we continue to honor Hanna and others like her, ensuring that their identities are never forgotten.
Simmy Allen is Head of the International Media Section, Media Relations Department, Yad Vashem.
