Commemoration Event in Starnberg: Voices for Memory and Civil Courage

Remembering, Resisting, Taking Responsibility

On November 9, 2026, the city of Starnberg, together with the Starnberger Dialog, invites you to a commemoration event that connects memory culture with democratic responsibility. The evening begins at 5:00 PM at Starnberger Kirchplatz and will then move to the small Schlossberghalle.

Commemoration at Kirchplatz

At the memorial plaque for the victims of the Nazi crimes, among others, District Administrator Stefan Frey and guest speaker Dr. Norbert Göttler will speak. Students will share their thoughts with the audience, bringing a personal and contemporary voice to the commemoration. Stefan Komarek will accompany the gathering with his clarinet, creating a focused musical atmosphere.

Meeting and Exchange

Following this, the city of Starnberg invites guests to a reception in the foyer of the Schlossberghalle. The 2nd Mayor Angelika Kammerl will welcome the guests. Over a small refreshment, there will be space for conversations, joint reflection, and the question of what significance memory holds in a democratic society today.

The Play Voices

The artistic highlight at 6:30 PM is the documentary play Voices, performed by the theater group of Ernst-Mach-Gymnasium Haar. The production deals with the fates of the victims of Nazi euthanasia crimes and gives a voice to the murdered through original quotes and carefully researched documents.

The Theater Workshop Blickwechsel works with a performative and immersive form: the young actors do not only perform on a traditional stage but also step out from the audience. This directorial decision intensifies the theater atmosphere and makes historical responsibility physically tangible. Stage art here becomes an encounter, a challenge, and a shared space for remembrance.

A Production Between History and Present

Voices connects historical research with contemporary acting. The dramaturgy leads not through distance but through closeness: voices, names, and life stories come to the forefront. The piece commemorates the nearly 4,000 victims of the Nazi euthanasia crimes in Haar and simultaneously questions how a society deals with exclusion, attributions, and the valuation of human life.

The production from Ernst-Mach-Gymnasium Haar has been recognized multiple times in the theater landscape. The theater group was invited to be the school theater of the countries with Voices following jury decisions and received the Peter-Hauser-Award at the Bunte Bühne festival. Audience reactions to previous performances ranged from profound shock to great recognition for the unusual documentary theater form.

An Evening for Remembrance and Civil Courage

The event combines a gathering, music, student contributions, reception, and theater into a multi-voiced stage experience. At its core are the victims of Nazi crimes, the importance of democratic vigilance, and the power of a vibrant memory culture.

Admission is free. Those who want to consciously experience November 9, 2026, in Starnberg will find an evening that does not remain in the past but focuses on civil courage and responsibility in the present.

Official Channels of the City of Starnberg and the Theater Group Blickwechsel:

• City of Starnberg Website: https://www.starnberg.de/gedenkveranstaltung-zum-09-november
• Blickwechsel Theater Workshop Website: https://www.blickwechsel.theater/
• Instagram: no official profile found
• Facebook: no official profile found
• YouTube: no official profile found

Sources:

• City of Starnberg - Commemoration Event on November 9
• City of Starnberg - Schlossberghalle
• Ernst-Mach-Gymnasium Haar - Theater Blog and Piece Information on Voices
• Münchner Merkur - Students Give a Voice to the Murdered Victims of Nazi Euthanasia
• Süddeutsche Zeitung - Voices of Ernst-Mach-Gymnasium Haar