Natzwiller, September 13, 2026 – The Consulate General of Kazakhstan in Strasbourg took part in an International commemoration ceremony for the victims of the Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp, held at the Memorial of the same name in the Alsace region.

The event, organized by the French National Office for Veterans and Victims of War and dedicated to the memory of the victims of the nazi regime and the tragic events of the past, was attended by representatives of local authorities, members of organizations and associations providing assistance to the families of deportees, as well as representatives of the diplomatic corps in France’s Grand Est region.

As a sign of respect and solidarity in preserving the historical memory of the victims and the fate of the prisoners of the Natzweiler camp, a wreath was laid on behalf of the Kazakh mission in Strasbourg at the foot of the monument commemorating the horrific Nazi crimes of that period.

During conversations with the Memorial’s administration held on the sidelines of the event, Kazakh diplomats emphasized the particular importance of preserving historical memory and perpetuating the memory of the heroism of soldiers, including Kazakhstanis who fought and lost their lives on French territory during the Second World War.

With the aim of close expert-level cooperation and facilitating cooperation in locating the burial sites of Kazakh soldiers who fell in the liberation of France during the war, the French counterparts were provided with lists of individuals likely originated from the Kazakh SSR, obtained from Kazakh researchers.

The Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp was established by Nazi Germany in May 1941 in the territory of annexed Alsace. Approximately 52,000 prisoners of more than fifty nationalities passed through the camp, around 22,000 of whom died.

Today, the former camp is one of the most important sites of remembrance of Nazi crimes in France. It is also home to the European Centre of Deported Resistance Members, dedicated to preserving the memory of resistance to the Nazi regime during that period.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-strasbourg/press/news/details/1290948?lang=ru