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Relay race of remembrance

On May 3 and 4 in Hof: Run for German-Polish reconciliation.

The district of Dachau and the district of Oświęcim announce:

April 4, 2025: An extraordinary project sends a strong signal for peace, remembrance and international understanding: Under the motto "Sport connects", 40 athletes from Germany and Poland are making their way together from Dachau to Oświęcim/Auschwitz.

 

From 1 to 10 May 2025, they will cover more than 1,000 kilometers in the Relay of Remembrance and Reconciliation. The aim of this relay race is to commemorate the liberation of the Auschwitz and Dachau concentration camps and the end of the Second World War 80 years ago.

"These 80 years of peace between Poland and Germany are a valuable asset - but unfortunately can no longer be taken for granted. In times of global tensions, it is all the more important to combine gratitude and remembrance with a firm commitment to democracy, freedom and human dignity. The districts of Dachau and Oświęcim/Auschwitz, once witnesses to the worst crimes against humanity, bear a special responsibility in this regard. This responsibility gave rise to a very lively district partnership 10 years ago," explains Stefan Löwl, District Administrator of Dachau.

"We know where hatred, misanthropy and intolerance can lead. Freedom, democracy and peace - there is no alternative to these values. It is up to us to protect them in the spirit of the message 'Never again'," emphasized Andrzej Skrzypiński, District Administrator from Oświęcim.

 

A symbolic walk through history

There are many ways to actively shape remembrance work - a relay race is one of them: the 1,050-kilometre route is covered in 10 stages of 100 kilometers each. There are always 4 to 5 German and Polish runners on the route at the same time, while the remaining participants follow in an accompanying bus. The runners hand over the baton to team members approximately every 10 to 15 kilometers. Numerous historical memorials are visited along the way, thus combining remembrance with sporting achievement.

TSV Dachau immediately agreed to organize the running event with the office of the District Administrator of Dachau. Since then, many volunteers have been working almost around the clock to set the course, find runners and provide food and accommodation. Participation in the run is free of charge.

Wolfgang Moll, District Councillor and 1st Chairman of TSV Dachau, is leading the ambitious project: "80 years of no war is a blessing: If we don't get it off the ground now - on the anniversary - then no one else will. I was immediately prepared to help organize this event. The enthusiasm I experience at every place we stop motivates me anew every day. I am convinced that we are creating a unique event here that we will remember for many years to come. The commitment of our helpers from the Dachau district is also sensational."

The route leads from Dachau via Bad Abbach, Weiden, Hof, Stollberg, Dresden and Görlitz to Poland. There it continues via Kreisau, Opole, Gliwice to the destination: Oświęcim/Auschwitz.

 

Stages Hof

The route passes through Hof on the weekend of May 3-4. Anyone interested is welcome to join the running group for one or more days.

Saturday, May 3, stage 3: Weiden-Hof (Flossenbürg, Wunsiedel, Hof concentration camp memorials)

Sunday, May 4, stage 4: Hof-Stollberg (Hof, Plauen, Reichenbach, Zwickau concentration camp memorials)

You can find more information about the route at https://www.tsvdachau1865.de/staffellauf-des-gedenkens-und-der-versoehnung-etappen

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