Elfriede Scholz, Erich Maria Remarque’s sister, was denounced by her landlady on 30 October 1943, because of undermining the war effort. Sentenced to death by the people’s court in Berlin, she was executed on 16 December 1943 in Berlin Plötzensee.
The documented case of Elfriede Scholz is one of thousands that have been treated by the People’s Court. It illustrates how a regular citizen gets lost in bureaucracy without a chance of escape. The documents on display force the public towards a more detailed inspection of the case, through three chronological stages. The first stage includes official documents from the government, the second mediates with letters from lawyers, notaries, etc., to get to the third and final stage with personal letters from family and friends.
The exhibition holds a total of 81 documents and 4 showcases.
For more information and reservations, please contact the Erich Maria Remarque Peace Center.