Remembering History in Berlin—New Publication on the Memorial’s Dedication

Their resistance put their lives at risk because it challenged a regime that tolerated no opposition. This makes the setting all the more remarkable: the Goldfischteich in Berlin’s Tiergarten served as the hub of the resistance mounted by Jehovah’s Witnesses throughout the German Reich—right under the eyes of the Gestapo.

On June 24, 2026, the memorial to Jehovah’s Witnesses persecuted and murdered under National Socialism will be formally dedicated at this historic site. The volume is scheduled for publication in fall 2026. It traces the history of the memorial project in detail—from the initial idea, first conceived in 1948, through the official dedication ceremony and related events in June 2026. These events marked the culmination of the long struggle for the dignified commemoration of Jehovah’s Witnesses’ resistance to the Nazi regime. The volume’s four sections, featuring well over 200 illustrations, trace the history of the memorial:

• a report on the 2022 symposium “Bible Students – Incredible Courage,” held at the Topography of Terror Foundation;
• a chronological account of the steps, consultations, and debates in the subsequent political decision-making process;
• biographies of the thirteen Goldfischteich activists and a critical examination of the perpetrators, including numerous previously unpublished images and findings from more than seven years of research;
• reports on the commemorative events held on June 24—the official day of remembrance for this persecuted group—at Berlin’s Goldfischteich from 2023 through 2026.

More information:

• Press Release from the Foundation Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe (in German)
• Video: “Bibelforscher – unglaublicher Mut. Film der Ständigen Konferenz der NS-Gedenkorte im Berliner Raum” (in German)