Pan-European Memorial
for the Victims
of Totalitarianism
in Brussels
Let’s build a Pan-European Memorial together.
The Pan-European Memorial for Victims of Totalitarianism in Brussels will be a sign of Europeans’ remembrance of their own difficult history. It will be created for the countless millions of victims of Fascism, Nazism, and Communism in Europe.
The Memorial is to be a piece of art chosen following an international competition. This unique project is supported by the European Parliament. Especially today, in view of the rising extremism and nationalism in Europe and in this time of war, the tragic human toll of the struggle for freedom and democracy needs to be commemorated in a dignified way in the heart of the European Union. The Memorial embodies the main reason for the existence of today’s peaceful democratic European Union – the lessons learned from the totalitarian past and the determination never to allow history to repeat itself. By building the Memorial, we are supporting European values.
Let’s do it together!
For the Future of Europe
No place of remembrance has yet been created for the countless millions of victims of Fascism, Nazism, and Communism in Europe. Especially today, in view of the rising extremism and nationalism in Europe, the tragic human toll of the struggle for freedom and democracy needs to be commemorated in a dignified way in the heart of the European Union.
The Memorial embodies the main reason for the existence of today’s peaceful democratic European Union – the lessons learned from the totalitarian past and the determination never to allow history to repeat itself.
The Memorial is also to be built for future generations, not only as a warning against repeating the tragic experience of the 20th century but also as a reference point for universal values.
It will be a visible symbol of remembrance, a manifestation of the truth about the past, and a place to pay respect and give justice to the victims. The European project is based on the conviction that we must overcome the experience of three totalitarian systems; the Memorial seeks to do just this.
We owe a debt of remembrance, truth, and justice to all victims!
An Echo in Time
A piece of art will be created in the centre of Brussels. More than 800 letters written by people of different nationalities, genders, beliefs, and political views will encourage reflection and a better understanding of history. These are letters by real people, written in prisons, camps and other places of suffering. Found years later, they will remain forever in the public space in the form of a Memorial in the centre of Brussels. Real experiences and true stories reverberate in our reality, like echoes across time.
The project was chosen following an international competition for the design of the Memorial which was organised by the Platform of European Memory and Conscience under the patronage of European Parliament President Mr Antonio Tajani. In 2018, an international jury with such famous experts as Lord (Norman) Foster, Andrea Grottaroli, Julie Beckman, and Keith Kaseman chose the project “An Echo in Time” by British Hong Kong artist and architect Tszwai So.
A Messenger for the Future
Tszwai So had a vision of himself being a messenger for the victims, collecting letters written by the victims to their loved ones from all over Europe. He then used smeared charcoal to register his initial impressions of the site and his idea.
On a chill morning, as usual I walked through Jean Rey Square with a mind preoccupied with worldly concerns. As I looked down, an image of an old letter written in a language familiar to me emerged from the ground – I suddenly realised that I was surrounded by letters between people and their loved ones who were imprisoned or deported by the totalitarian regimes: they told the real story of a tragedy on a scale that I could never have perceived in our society – Tszwai So
Giving a Voice to the Victims
The design is based on the last letters written by the murdered victims to their loved ones.
We can relatively easily read the message of those who were killed in the fight against totalitarian systems. Their attitude shows us just how precious values such as freedom, democracy, the right to self-determination, and human rights are. For them, they were worth sacrificing their lives for.
The letters point us to the meaning of true tolerance, respect for different views, and the innate dignity of every human being.
I saw myself as nothing more than a messenger, carrying a suitcase full of letters between the victims… and scattering them over the square – Tszwai So
The Ripples of Letters
In 2017, Tszwai So and his team sent out a simple worldwide appeal, explaining the design intent to individuals related to the victims and institutions or archives involved in the study of and research into totalitarianism.
As of 15 December 2017, So had been given support and permission from around 20 institutions or individuals to use more than 39,000 letters between victims of totalitarianism and their loved ones.
Carefully selected letters written by the victims and their relatives will be enlarged and printed on the paving slabs.
The Site
The Memorial will be located in the centre of Brussels – the heart of the European Union. The location currently under consideration is Jean Rey Square in the European District of Brussels, Belgium.
Who
we are
Organisers
The project is led by the Platform for European Memory and Conscience (PEMC), an international non-governmental organisation including people and institutions dedicated to the memory, human rights, and commemoration of victims of totalitarian systems. PEMC has been active since 2010 and was founded in response to the European Parliament resolution of 2 April 2009 on European conscience and totalitarianism
If you have any questions – please contact us.
Support
us
Support the Memorial
If you want to be one of the creators of the Pan-European Memorial, you can:
- donate financial support
- sign the petition
- organise a local presentation of the project in your country, region or municipality – contact us
- share information in social media:
- organise a local presentation of the project in your country, region or municipality – contact us
- share information in social media:
