“As policymakers and administrators of the state capital of Mainz, we do not tolerate vandalism—especially not at our memorial sites. This site is dedicated to the homeless and so-called ‘asocial’ victims of the Nazi regime. To deface it so senselessly demonstrates a glaring lack of respect and empathy. Vandalism is not an expression of opinion,” says Ludwig Holle, Director of Construction and Historical Heritage.

Ata Delbasteh, Head of the Department of Culture and Education, adds: “We bear responsibility for our history, and this applies to a particularly high degree to the era of the Nazi regime and the people who fell victim to it. The memorial sites for each of the victim groups make the culture of remembrance and commemoration in our city visible and tangible, and especially today, when there are fewer and fewer eyewitnesses and it is becoming increasingly difficult to convey this history to young people, we will not tolerate any disregard for this remembrance.”    

For Nele Wilk of Armut und Gesundheit in Deutschland e.V., one thing is clear: “This act of vandalism painfully reminds us just how relevant the fight against the exclusion of homeless people still is. We thank the city for its swift action and will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that people affected by poverty are seen, protected, and respected.” Armut und Gesundheit in Deutschland e.V. had initiated and financed the installation of the artwork at the initiative of Prof. Gerhard Trabert.

The artwork, titled “diffamiert” and created by Aschaffenburg-based sculptor Konrad Franz, was installed in 2025 and is one of the first public art installations in Germany dedicated to the persecution of homeless people under the Nazi dictatorship.