Memorial concert for the 80th anniversary of the end of the war

An evening of remembrance, music and responsibility

On the eve of the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, we joined forces with the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation to host a commemorative evening on Berlin's Museum Island. Together, we commemorated the end of a war that brought suffering to millions - and the responsibility that arises from it.

For the VBKI, this evening was more than just a historical review. The years of National Socialism have a special place in the almost 150-year history of our association - as a reminder. The VBKI was founded in 1879 by Berlin entrepreneurs, many of whom were Jewish. We feel a special obligation to their memory. It is therefore all the more painful that our association served injustice during the Nazi regime. We acknowledge this past in order to learn from it - and to take a stand for the future. Today, in a time of growing uncertainty, the memory of peace and freedom seems more urgent than ever.

At the center of the commemorative event was a concert by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra with spoken texts by Martina Gedeck in the James-Simon-Galerie. Prior to this, the exhibition "The Angel of History - Walter Benjamin, Paul Klee and the Berlin Angels 80 Years after the End of the War" was ceremoniously opened at the Bode Museum.

We would like to thank all our guests for their sympathy and all those involved in front of and behind the scenes for their contribution to a dignified and impressive evening.

Special thanks go to our partners:

• the National Museums in Berlin - Prussian Cultural Heritage
• Bayer
• Bertelsmann
• Blacklake
• CollectorUsinger