- Victimas suizas del Holocausto
Memorial for the victims of the Holocaust in Bern – location now confirmed
30.07.2025 – SwissCommunity News
Preparatory work for the Holocaust memorial site has been completed, and implementation is planned for 2027/2028. As a co-initiator and supporter of the project, the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad is delighted with the latest developments.
Swiss memorial takes shape
It is now official: an official memorial to the victims of National Socialism will be built in the city of Bern. Following intensive planning, the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) and the City of Bern have completed the preparatory work.
The memorial will be located on the Casino Terrace, in the immediate vicinity of the Federal Palace, and will be open to the public, barrier-free, and free of charge.
An architectural competition will start in July 2025. At the beginning of 2026, a jury will select the winning project, after which the building permit process will begin. Implementation is planned for 2027/2028. The aim is to create a dignified place of remembrance and reflection.
A long road to remembrance
The initiative for a national memorial dates back to 2018, when the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA) first called for a memorial site. On 25 May 2021, the OSA, together with the Christian-Jewish Working Group, the Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities (SIG), and representatives from academia (University of Basel, ETH Zurich’s Archive of Contemporary History), submitted a detailed concept to the Federal Council. Over 150 initial signatories and around 50 organisations supported the proposal.
The Council of States and the National Council voted in favour of creating a memorial and adopted the corresponding motions in June 2021 and March 2022. This paved the way for concrete implementation.
On 16 February 2024, an official cooperation agreement was signed between the FDFA and the City of Bern
More than a memorial
"At the heart of the national memorial in Bern are the victims of National Socialism whose stories were linked to Switzerland in different ways. Art and information invite people to engage with the Nazi era and to reflect on historical responsibility. As a living site of remembrance it will be open to all, create space for dialogue, and will promote awareness of civilian courage, solidarity, human rights and democracy, now and in the future." Steering committee, 27 January 2025
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