Following a long, intense and very serious debate on 13 November 2003, the Board of Trustees of the Foundation Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, chaired by Bundestag President Wolfgang Thierse, decided to recom-mence construction with all the companies involved up to now and therefore to continue using the anti-graffiti products manufactured by Degussa. The chairman summarised the Boards discussion: »This decision was reached after consi-deration of the moral, historical and political aspects of the issue but also in the full knowledge of the technical, legal and financial consequences. At the same time it acknowledges our deepest respect for contrary votes and for the feelings of those whom this decision may offend.« The members of the Board of Trustees confirmed their intention to erect the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe as a symbol of acceptance of historical responsibility on the part of society today. This also embraced companies such as Degussa which have a heavy burden to bear as a result of their history but which have made earnest endeavours to deal with that history in recent years. »The past is an integral part of our society«, Wolfgang Thierse said. »We have to live with this part.« He described the ensuing debate as important and necessary; it is to be documented as part of the Memorials development process at the future Information Centre. All the companies entrusted with the production, coating and erection of the stelae will recommence work without delay.

On 10 November 2003, the Youth Web Page »Children and youth as victims of Nazi crimes« was presented to the public and can be accessed at the internet address:

www.holocaustmemorialberlin.org/jugendwebsite

The Youth Web Page is a joint project conceived by the Foundation Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe and STEP 21, a youth initiative.

On the Youth Website, the stories of persecution of five young victims of National Socialist race ideology are presented by means of historical pictures and documents. The fates of Georges, Marie, Karl, Christa and Walerjan are narrated. They came from France, the former Czechoslovakia, Austria, Germany and Poland. Through the website, the Foundation Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe hopes to be instrumental in keeping the memory of young victims of National Socialist persecution alive.

A project organized by STEP 21 will complement the website: From 1 January 2004, school students are called upon to research biographies of children from their home towns who fell victim to the National Socialists politics of discrimination and extermination. Individual students are welcome to take part, as are history work groups and history major classes. The participants should decide themselves in which form they wish to present the biographies: Be it a video documentary, a report, an interview with a first-hand witness or an essay, it is important that facts about the period from 1933 to 1945 in their home towns are included alongside the fates of the individuals.

The contributions received will be presented on a website which will go online in 2004.