• Memorial for the victims of the Holocaust
On 12 March 2007 Spain’s first Holocaust memorial was dedicated. It was initiated by the city council and realized in cooperation with the Jewish community.
Image: Madrid, 1940, »Reichsführer SS« Heinrich Himmler visiting General Franco, Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-L15327
Madrid, 1940, »Reichsführer SS« Heinrich Himmler visiting General Franco, Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-L15327

Image: Madrid, 2007, Total view of the Holocaust memorial, Isabell Morgado
Madrid, 2007, Total view of the Holocaust memorial, Isabell Morgado
In 1492, Jews in Spain were either forced to convert to Catholicism or leave the country on pain of death. At the end of the 19th century, Spain opened its doors to Jews fleeing pogroms in the Russian Empire. During the First World War, many descendants of Jews who had fled in the 15th century – »Sephardic« Jews from the Balkans – returned Spain. Many settled in Barcelona and founded a new Jewish community in 1918, one year after Madrid’s first new synagogue had opened.
By 1936, the year that the Spanish Civil War broke out, the Jewish communities in various Spanish cities had consolidated their existence. After the victory of the Nationalist side under General Franco repressive measures were taken against Jews. Jewish communities were gradually dissolved; they remained banned until 1945. Nevertheless, Spain did not participate in the Second World War and did not hand over Jews to Nazi Germany. However, the country was also reluctant to open its doors to Jewish refugees in Europe and did little to help Jews with Spanish citizenship who remained in territories controlled by Germany.
Even after 1945, Jews could practice their religion only privately. In 1968, when a new law guaranteeing freedom of religion was passed, Jewish communities could reorganize themselves.
Image: Madrid, 1940, »Reichsführer SS« Heinrich Himmler visiting General Franco, Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-L15327
Madrid, 1940, »Reichsführer SS« Heinrich Himmler visiting General Franco, Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-L15327

Image: Madrid, 2007, Total view of the Holocaust memorial, Isabell Morgado
Madrid, 2007, Total view of the Holocaust memorial, Isabell Morgado
The memorial is dedicated first and foremost tot he murdered Jews of Europe, but also to other victims of National Socialism.
Image: Madrid, 2007, Wooden sculpture, Isabell Morgado
Madrid, 2007, Wooden sculpture, Isabell Morgado

Image: Madrid, 2007, Holocaust memorial, Isabell Morgado
Madrid, 2007, Holocaust memorial, Isabell Morgado
It took years from the end of the Franco-dictatorship before any serious examination of the history of the regime and of the Civil War was undertaken. In 2005, José Zapatero became the first Spanish Prime Minister to visit a concentration camp memorial: in Mauthausen, he paid tribute above all to thousands of Spaniards, political prisoners, who had fled from the Franco-regime and died in German camps.
The Madrid City Council unanimously decided on 28 April 2005 to establish a Holocaust Memorial. It was dedicated on 12 March 2007 by the Mayor of Madrid. It is the first Holocaust memorial in Spain and was built in the »Park of the Three Cultures«, symbolizing the coexistence of Christians, Jews and Muslims.
The design is by artist Samuel Nahon and architect Alberto Stisin. The column at its centre is ten metres high. It is made of railroad ties forming a Star of David. Around it are wooden sculptures commemorating the millions of victims. The Spanish inscription reads: »Memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. In memory of the millions of Jews murdered by Nazi barbarism during the Shoah, and also to Spanish, gipsy and other groups of victims, who were murdered as well in the extermination camps.«
Image: Madrid, 2007, Holocaust memorial, Isabell Morgado
Madrid, 2007, Holocaust memorial, Isabell Morgado

Image: Madrid, 2007, Dedication plaque of the memorial, Isabell Morgado
Madrid, 2007, Dedication plaque of the memorial, Isabell Morgado
Name
Monumento a las víctimas del holocausto
Address
Jardín de las Tres Culturas im Parque Juan Carlos I
28042 Madrid
Open
The memorial is accessible at all times.
Possibilities
There are commemorations held at the memorial regularly on Holocaust Remembrance Day, January 27.