Rememberance & Reconciliation

The Centre of Military Research, Education and Public Engagement located in the former War Hospital at Edinburgh Napier University’s Craiglockhart Campus and with the support of the German Consulate General in Edinburgh is honored to be welcoming this poignant and evocative exhibition to Edinburgh. For several years, dedicated volunteers from the Heimat-und Kulturkreis Kutenholz e. V. in Lower Saxony, Germany, have been researching the stories of local victims of the Second World War. Their work focuses especially on children of forced labourers and concentration camp prisoners, victims of Nazi psychiatry, prisoners of war, and Allied soldiers who lost their lives in the region.A particular emphasis has been placed on uncovering the fate of British soldiers killed in the final days of the war when their tank and reconnaissance vehicle were attacked in Kutenholz. Among the fallen was Robin Tudsbery, who is now buried at the Cemetery of Honour in Becklingen. In his memory, his parents built the Robin Chapel in Edinburgh to commemorate their only son. Over time, a meaningful and lasting relationship has developed between the project’s initiators in Kutenholz, the Tudsbery family, and the Robin Chapel. Today, this connection continues through regular exchanges, particularly around Remembrance Sunday.In their search for the families of those affected, the volunteers have built an international network with contacts in Scotland, England, France, Australia, Canada, and Singapore. For many relatives, finally learning the fate of their loved ones—after decades of uncertainty—brings a profound sense of relief. In May 2022, memorial stones were unveiled in Kutenholz in Honour of the victims. Fifteen relatives of British soldiers travelled to the small village to attend the inauguration ceremony.The group’s work has attracted significant media attention both locally and internationally. Coverage has appeared in multiple newspapers, including the Daily Mail, and the British television network ITV News Central has actively supported the search for victims’ families. BBC Radio Sheffield aired a live interview with Debbie Bülau, the project’s initiator. In a poignant gesture, the late Queen Elizabeth II sent two letters of thanks from Windsor Castle to Kutenholz. The late Queen had known Robin Tudsbery.Debbie Bülau’s extraordinary commitment was formally recognised by the United Kingdom with the awarding of a Medal of the British Empire (BEM), presented by the British Ambassador during a ceremony in Kutenholz earlier this year. Other volunteers who have made an essential contribution to the research are: Frank Hoferichter, Torsten Henneken, Reiner Klintworth and Frank Bartels.As part of their work, the Kutenholz Memorial Group has developed a comprehensive exhibition that tells the stories of individuals whose fates have long been forgotten or deliberately concealed. The organisers hope the exhibition will inspire others to explore and engage with their own local history.This exhibition stands as a powerful example of grassroots civic engagement. It movingly illustrates the enduring importance of confronting and understanding the personal tragedies of the victims of National Socialism—even 80 years after the end of the war