Children inform about history: logo live at Bunker Valentin!

Children inform about history: logo live at Bunker Valentin!

The ZDF children's news program "logo" recently made its sixth tour stop in Bremen at the DenkOrt Bunker Valentin. From September 1st to September 16th, the team will tour through 16 German cities and introduce children to exciting topics. The students from Farge Rekum elementary school presented a special project: an audio guide for the memorial that sheds light on the crimes of National Socialism. Historian Petra Maurer emphasized that the bunker often represents a great mystery for children and emphasized how important it is to come to terms with this history in a child-friendly way. The collaboration between the primary school and the bunker has existed since 2010.

Recording the show was a real experience. Clemens and Emma from the project class had the opportunity to perform live. Before the recording, there were numerous rehearsals and instructions from the show's reporters. The younger viewers were also actively involved in the show, for example through questions and fun quizzes. The entire show, which took place on the premises of the bunker, went smoothly and received positive feedback from the viewers.

A dark chapter in history

The Bunker Valentin, one of the largest submarine shipyards in war history, was built between 1943 and 1945 in Bremen-Farge. During the Second World War, more than 10,000 forced laborers and concentration camp prisoners were used for construction in inhumane conditions. Over 1,600 of these workers died due to exhaustion, malnutrition or violent treatment. An important goal of the bunker construction was the development of the new Type XXI submarine, which was to be manufactured using an assembly line process. Despite 95% of construction being almost completely completed, production ultimately never took place due to the course of the war.

Today the bunker is a memorial that documents the memory of the victims of forced labor and the history of the place. An extensive visitor center, which was renovated between 2011 and 2015 at a cost of 1.9 million euros, is used to shed light on the dark past. Historians organize tours, workshops and cultural events to bring the horrors of this time closer to the public. The documentary “Hitler’s U-Boat Factory – Bunker Valentin” sheds light on this topic and provides detailed information about the fate of the forced laborers.

A place of remembrance and enlightenment

The Valentin bunker, which was used as a Bundeswehr material depot after the war, is now a Bremen listed building. The part that was used as a depot is accessible to visitors, while other areas remain closed for security reasons. A concept for processing and remembering history was also developed within the memorial. The initiatives began in the 1980s, with the inauguration of the “Destruction Through Work” memorial in 1983.

With a strong focus on the history and memory of forced laborers, the Valentin Bunker has a permanent place in the region's collective memory. Now that the students of the Farge Rekum primary school are actively contributing to education, the historical significance of this place is becoming particularly tangible. The collaboration between school and memorial is an example of how remembrance can be brought to life.

For more information about the history of the Bunker Valentin, visit the pages of Weser courier, ZDF and Wikipedia.