At "Heimatmuseum" (local history #museum) in #Leer, #Ostfriesland, taking a look into East Frisia's past.
#EastFrisia #HistoryLessonWithBella #photography

Take a good look at the first picture.
This is its backstory: "On 17 September 1944, a satellite camp of #Neuengamme #ConcentrationCamp was set up on Alter Banter Weg in #Wilhelmshaven. The more than 1,000 male prisoners, who had been selected in the main camp, had to carry out hard labour for the Kriegsmarine shipyard and clean-up work. Some of the barracks in a forced labour camp had previously been fenced in with barbed wire and surrounded by watchtowers.
Without a day off, the prisoners had to work twelve hours a day with completely inadequate food and constant beatings and harassment. The death rate rose rapidly. Just a few weeks after the arrival of the concentration camp prisoners, the city administration was ordered by the navy to provide additional burial areas at the Aldenburg cemetery. The Neuengamme concentration camp death register for the satellite camp in Wilhelmshaven recorded 234 deaths. The actual number of dead was probably higher and is estimated at a maximum of 700."

Now look at the following pictures. Many of us in #Germany do not want history to repeat itself, that's why we take to the streets. Will this change anything, you may ask? Well, probably not, but it helps to feel less lonely, scared and helpless.
#HistoryLessonWithBella #NoAfD #DePol #NoToFascism

Fancy a little #story? A story about this #memorial?
Well, let me tell you about the ‘Sekes Männekes’. These little people (the Sekes Männekes) are said to have once wreaked havoc in the farming community. They slept in holes in the ground during the day and played evil tricks on people at night. One day, the kobolds/#hobgoblins/#leprechauns killed the farmer from "Teufelshof" (devil's farm) because he had been digging for them. In her fear of death, the widow made rich donations to the church.

The kobolds' anger was now directed at the church: one night they pulled the church tower askew with a rope. The people of the town then called on their patron saint, St Pancratius, for help. He appeared to the priest and told him to dig a pit. The Sekes-Männekes were burnt in this pit and have never been seen again since.

A cross was erected in memory of the #kobolds, which still stands at the burial place today.
#HistoryLessonWithBella ... or is this just a #fable?!
#sculpture #bronze

This is the second part of yesterday's #HistoryLessonWithBella (https://pixelfed.social/i/web/post/711653813936023737).
Pictures 3 and 4 show you a model of what the camp looked like back then. Picture 2 shows original objects from the camp. And picture 1 shows - and this is my favourite - survivors of the camp.
If you would like to find out more about #Esterwegen Memorial Site (or visit it yourself): https://www.gedenkstaette-esterwegen.de/english/
Thank you for your interest!
#WWII #NeverForget #PleaseRemainHuman #LifeIsPrecious #MoorSoldaten

Here comes another #HistoryLessonWithBella.
At a time when more and more people call for "strong" leaders and want to return to "old values", it is all the more important to remember how much pain this way of thinking can cause (and already has).
This and the next post will take you to the #Esterwegen Memorial Site. Between 1933 and 1945, the Nazi state operated 15 camps in German #Emsland, which, as places of Nazi terror, were part of the system of the SS, the judiciary and the Wehrmacht. Around 80,000 concentration camp inmates and prisoners suffered in these camps, and well over 100,000 prisoners of war were added during the course of the war. More than 20,000 people from various European countries died in these camps.
Perhaps some of you know the song "Die Moorsoldaten". It was written in one of the camps here. If you don't know it yet, here is the German original with English subtitles: https://yewtu.be/watch?v=kLjydWhhSOo I think it's absolutely heartbreaking.
Image descriptions = more in depth info.
#NeverForget #WWII

This is a 'Bargfred' from the early 17th century. It used to serve as a shelter for the emergency reserve. Buildings of this type were usually erected on a raised area to protect them from water. To protect the reserve from animals, the keep was also surrounded by a moat. It is the oldest type of storage building and is already known from Germanic settlements (around the birth of Christ).
And this has been another #HistoryLessonWithBella
#architecture #history #PeasantLife

I promised you another #HistoryLessonWithBella. However, this one won't bring much joy. It's about #war. Wars that are useless, unjust and only bring pain. So much pain.

This is the #Pozières #Memorial, a World War I memorial which was unveiled in August 1930. It lists the names of 14,657 British and South African #soldiers of the Fifth and Fourth Armies with no known grave who were killed between 21 March 1918 and 7 August 1918, during the German advance known as the #SpringOffensive (21 March–18 July), and the period of Allied consolidation and recovery that followed.

This place is incredibly beautiful and immensely sad. And as a German, I feel very uncomfortable in places like this. Because Germany has brought a lot of suffering into the world. Yes, many other countries have done so too and still do today, but I can only speak from the perspective of a German. I feel ashamed, sad and angry.Why can't we see each other as equals? What is so difficult about being respectful towards all people? What is there to gain from war? I know I won't find answers here. I just feel so helpless ...

Sorry, this is not a beautiful post. But it is one that matters to me. Because of what we have done to eachother. And still do. Look at it!

And by the way: Many of the dead here were just 18 or 19 years old. They were children!
#WWI #Somme #BellaEnVacances #StopWars

Let's have another quick #HistoryLessonWithBella. Let's talk about #WWII ...
I took these pictures at 'Utah Beach'. This was the code name for one of the five sectors of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on June 6, 1944 (D-Day), during World War II. This year, several festivities will take place in the area (it's been 80 years): https://en.normandie-tourisme.fr/highlight/80th-anniversary-of-d-day/
If you want to find out more about #UtahBeach: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah_Beach
#BellaEnVacances

This is the "Château de Flamanville". It was built between 1654 and 1658 on the ruins of a manor house by Hervé Basan, who wanted a residence worthy of his title of marquis, recently awarded by Louis XIV. The inauguration of the #château in the summer of 1658 gave rise to a sumptuous celebration. I would have loved to see this extravaganza ;)
Today the main building is empty while the buildings in the courtyards are used as holiday homes.
#BellaEnVacances #HistoryLessonWithBella #castle

The second immersive exhibition at #PhoenixDesLumieres in #Dortmund shows the #art of the Catalan painter, graphic artist, writer, sculptor and stage designer #SalvadorDalí. He is one of the main representatives of #surrealism. Dalí was born in 1904 and died in 1989. You will probably recognise his trademark, the twirled moustache. He is a controversial character and not everyone likes his art. I am not a fan, but I am impressed by his creativity and his play with motifs.
This post shows you some moments from the #exhibition. If you want to see them in motion, please check out: https://www.phoenix-lumieres.com/en/dali-endless-enigma
#HistoryLessonWithBella

I really like the #artwork of #Catalan artist Antoni Gaudí. At the end of the 19th century he became famous for his works of wrought iron, furniture, ceramics, sculptures, mosaics and stained glass windows. His forms were always organic, curved and integrated into the buildings. Anyone who has ever been to #Barcelona will have spotted Gaudí's signature everywhere in the city (Park Güell is amazing!)
Now I was able to get close to his art in a very special way. In 2023, an immersive art centre in the Phoenix Halle, a former gas treating plant, in #Dortmund was created. 'Phoenix des Lumières' presents monumental immersive digital exhibitions, dedicated to major artists in the history of art and to #contemporary #art. #Gaudí and #Dalí are currently on show there (more photos to follow).
Hope you like these highlights from the Gaudí #exhibition as much as I do
https://www.phoenix-lumieres.com/en
#architecture #PhoenixDesLumieres #HistoryLessonWithBella

This is 'Sollbrüggen House', originally a medieval #manor surrounded by moats, which was first mentioned in the 12th century. The estate burnt down completely in 1781 and was rebuilt. The oldest surviving part of the building is the gatehouse from the 18th century. The north and south wings date from the 19th century. In 1840, the house was probably remodelled in the classicist style according to plans by Adolph von Vagedes as the country residence of silk manufacturer Peter de Greiff (Krefeld is also known as the city of velvet and silk).
#Krefeld #architecture #blackandwhite #HistoryLessonWithBella

You know what I really like? The long #history we have here. Take the town of #Wachtendonk, for example. From 1326, Wachtendonk belonged to the upper quarter of the Duchy of Guelders and was granted town rights in 1343. 1343! The #town centre with its old #houses and winding lanes has been extensively restored with the support of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. In addition to numerous individual buildings, it is also listed as a whole. The street layout has remained unchanged for more than 300 years.
PS Picture 7 is my favourite
#HistoryLessonWithBella #medieval #architecture #bikeride #biketour

Here comes another #HistoryLessonWithBella, a dark one.
Everywhere in the north of #Luxembourg you can find reminders of #WWII. Next to the Luxembourg flag, the flag of the United States often flies in the wind and military equipment can be seen here and there.
The "#Schumannseck" was the scene of the worst battles of the Battle of the Bulge. For several weeks, the American soldiers and the German army faced each other in a murderous war of position. This site preserves the traces of the fighting that took place there from 27 December 1944 to 21 January 1945.
A #memorial trail leads three kilometres through the #forest at Schumannseck, past old trenches, some of which have been reconstructed. Life-size historical photos of American and German soldiers as well as Luxembourg civilians illustrate the events of that time at various stations.
This forest is beautiful and eerie at the same time. Behind a corner, a sniper lies in the grass; a little further on, an American soldier crouches in a foxhole. It is quiet, oppressive and spooky. And even on a sunny day one gets goose bumps.
If you wish to find out more about this important site: https://www.visitluxembourg.com/tour/wanderweg-schumannseck-site-memorial-1944-1945
#KeinVergeben #KeinVergessen

Do you like #castles? Then this is a post for you. Get six in one post
I spent this week in #Luxembourg (my first time ever which is quite embarassing since Luxembourg is not far from where I live). I only got to see 1/3 of this beautiful European country, but what I did see I really liked, e. g. all these castles.
Info on each of them can be found in the image description.
#Medieval #ruins #castleruins #architecture #HistoryLessonWithBella

Today you'll accompany me to #Tecklenburg
The historic town centre with its half-timbered houses is visible from afar since it is situated on a hill. Many of its buildings are listed. Tecklenburg lies between Osnabrück and Münster. In the fourth photo, Münster can or rather could be seen on the horizon (if you could zoom in deep enough).
While strolling through the alleys, I met a local resident walking her dog. She asked if I was interested in the history of Tecklenburg. Of course! We then walked around the town for an hour and she pointed out many interesting places and stories to me. That was awesome!
The tower you see in picture 3 is the Wier tower. Johann Weyer (or Wier) fought the witch hunts. Here is his Wiki entry (the German article is much more detailed): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Weyer
#HistoryLessonWithBella

This is #castle Linn in #Krefeld. Most of the castle complex that still exists today dates from the 13th century, with only the south wing and the low outer defensive wall dating from the 15th and 16th centuries.
Trivia: There is an iron-grated shaft in the middle of a castle hall that served Krefeld singer Hansi Kürsch (#BlindGuardian) as inspiration for the song 'The Bard's Song (In the Forest)'. During a visit to the castle, he developed the idea "to write a song about a mother who is locked up in the #dungeon down there", Kürsch told the trade magazine #MetalHammer in 2015. In the further course, however, the piece developed into a "bard song".
#Metal #HistoryLessonWithBella

My #bikeride today took me to a Jewish #cemetery.
The cemetery was built around 1800. Only a few gravestones (mazewot) remain in the cemetery. They were erected for deceased persons with dates of birth and death between 1810 and 1906.
Visitors place stones on the graves. These stones symbolise the never-ending construction on the House of Life. Moreover, people believe that the dead are not really dead as long as their graves are visited and their names are spoken.
I have also placed a stone.
What a beautiful and peaceful final resting place.
#HistoryLessonWithBella

Today's early morning #bikeride took me to Kalkum #Castle, a moated castle in #Düsseldorf. Originating from one of the oldest knight's residences in the region, the ancestral seat of the knightly lords of Kalkum, the property passed to the lords of Winkelhausen around the middle of the 15th century, who were to determine the fate of the complex for the following 300 years. Altered in the 17th century to a castle in the Baroque style, the complex received its present external appearance essentially through a classicist reconstruction in the years 1808 to 1814 according to designs by the #Krefeld master builder Georg Peter Leydel. The castle is surrounded by an approximately 19-hectare #castlepark.
It's pretty, isn't it?
#HistoryLessonWithBella #June #spring #MoatedCastle #biketour