Memorial Maria-Veen

In the town of Maria Veen, municipality of Reken, a stone with plaque has been placed for the German refugees during and shortly after the 2nd World War. The plaque was placed by initiatives of the citizens of this municipality to prevent "forgetting". The initiative was supported by the municipality of Reken, the local history association Reken and the Reken Foundation in 2011.

The text on the plaque:
"The future needs memory.
14 million Germans from the former East German territories lost their home through flight and expulsion between 1944 and 1947. 2 million of them lost their lives.
A transit camp was set up here in Maria-Veen for 90000 "Eastern expelled" or East displaced persons. They found their first residence in "Home Maria Veen" and in the former Trappist monastery until they were distributed in the surrounding "Kriese" or administrative regions.
More than 60 displaced persons, including children, have died from the hardships during transport or during the temporary stay in the transit camp. They were interred in the nearby cemetery.
Among the refugees' few belongings was a copy of Wartha's statue of Our Lady.
Today she stands on a side altar here in the monastery church
At the time, the municipality of Reken took in more than 1,100 refugees and eastern displaced persons. They found their second home in Reken."

Do you have more information about this location? Inform us!