On 9 November 2026, public commemorative events marking the 1938 pogrom night will take place in numerous cities in northern Germany. According to matching announcements from local authorities, universities and civil society initiatives, plans include wreath-laying ceremonies, vigils, readings and educational activities for schools and families. The NDR reports on plans of this kind in several regions and highlights the combination of quiet remembrance and accessible educational activities.
In Hamburg were adjourned on Joseph-Carlebach Square vigils have been announced. They explicitly commemorate the destroyed Bornplatz Synagogue. According to the organisers, speeches and silent remembrance will form part of the event. The The University of Hamburg has announced a central commemorative event for 9 November, including talks and a programme for students. The VVN-BdA has also announced events at various locations across the city. These attributions are based on the respective organisers’ announcements.
Events are also planned in Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony. In in Kiel and Lübeck schools, youth groups and cultural institutions are planning programmes that combine historical context with discussions and readings. In Hanover municipal listings show plans for wreath-laying ceremonies at several memorial sites, as well as discussions with witnesses to the period. Bremen has announced a commemorative event at which local schools will contribute readings. Various cities are offering guided walks through sites of persecution, often following the Stolpersteine memorial plaques, to bring individual stories to light and highlight local connections.
The events mark the anniversary of the pogrom night of 9–10 November 1938, when synagogues were destroyed, Jewish businesses ransacked and thousands of people assaulted and arrested throughout the German Reich. According to the organisers, this year’s programme aims both to commemorate the victims and to impart historical knowledge, while raising young people’s awareness of antisemitism and exclusion.
The respective cities, universities and initiatives are publishing specific times, locations and access details in their event calendars. The plans mentioned relate to 9 November 2026 and were announced ahead of the commemorations. Changes at short notice are possible; local authorities are updating their information on an ongoing basis. Overall, the regional overview shows that remembrance is firmly established across northern Germany and linked to educational activities, bringing the past into dialogue with the present.
Editor: Celestina Fuentes (Article created with AI assistance).