The records and tape recordings of first Frankfurt Auschwitz process were awarded to UNESCO on Monday as a world document heritage. This was shared by German UNESCO Commission. "The recognition underscores unique historical and social significance of documents for postwar history and remembrance culture of Germany," said Hesse Minister for Science and Art, Boris Rhein (CDU).

The 1963 to 1965 negotiated process is considered crucial to critical engagement with National Socialism.

Also included as World document Heritage was papyrus document of Constitutio Antoniniana, preserved in university library Gießen. "It is only preserved specimen of document with which emperor Marcus Aurelius Severus Antoninus estimates that between 212 and 213 after Christ all free inhabitants of Roman Empire were granted civil right," Rhein shared. Thus, for first time, a uniform citizen status was created for millions of people of different cultures on three continents. "The inclusion of Constitutio Antoniniana in digital register shows that we have to deal with one of world's most important contemporary testimonies," said university president Professor Joybrato Mukherjee.

A document of first Frankfurt Auschwitz process. Now it has been declared a world document heritage by UNESCO. The process documents comprise 456 file volumes and are stored in Hessian main archives. (copyright) Fabian Sommer/DPA

In first Auschwitz trial in Frankfurt, 22 defendants had to answer, who were accused of murder and aiding murder. National Socialists had murdered more than a million people in Auschwitz concentration and extermination camp between 1940 and 1945.

103 Tapes with testimonies

The process documents comprise 456 file volumes and are stored in Hessian main archives. According to ministry, y reflect whole process. As a special feature, 103 tapes with recordings of statements of 319 witnesses from main proceedings apply.

The Greens in Landtag welcomed decision. This underlines " importance of documents for our history and exhorts us to be vigilant and to oppose those who deny, trivialize, or even draw a final line", said Martina Field Mayer, cultural policy Spokeswoman for group.

The register of UNESCO Program memory of world should secure and make accessible documents of exceptional value. Criteria for admission are worldwide significance, aunticity, uniqueness and irreplaceability. According to communication, World document heritage includes 427 documents from all over world, of which 24 are from Germany.

Date Of Update: 01 November 2017, 12:03