On 9 November 2024, the sculpture by artist Julia Kausch of Chemnitz was inaugurated in that city. The sculpture is dedicated to Auschwitz survivor and honorary citizen, Justin Sonder.

The ceremony was held in memory of a man who dedicated his life to increasing awareness and understanding of the crimes committed under National Socialism, about human dignity and the fight against anti-Semitism and xenophobia.

Sven Schulze, Lord Mayor of Chemnitz, Christoph Heubner, Executive Vice President of the International Auschwitz Committee, Christian Wulff, former President of Germany, Michael Kretschmer, Minister President of the Free State of Saxony, and Jonathan Claus, Justin Sonder’s great-grandson, spoke at the dedication ceremony. Their words were a reminder of how Justin Sonder tirelessly told his story to encourage others and promote responsibility in society.

The memorial, a gift from the International Auschwitz Committee to the city of Chemnitz, is a warning signal and a reminder of the atrocities committed during the Holocaust. It is also dedicated to the legacy of Justin Sonder − an ambassador of humanity who always stood up for remembrance and for a fairer world. His memory will remind us to always uphold human dignity.

Thanks go to the many donors who supported the creation of the memorial with their contributions both small and large. And thanks to the Free State of Saxony, the association Buntmacher e.V. in Chemnitz, Volkswagen Saxony in Chemnitz, and the city of Chemnitz itself, for working together so well in the planning and realization of the project.

Christoph Heubner
Executive Vice President of the International Auschwitz Committee

More about the IAC campaign: “A bench for Justin Sonder”