On Thursday, April 17, H.S.H. Prince Albert II visited the Abtnaundort Massacre Memorial in Leipzig, accompanied by Mr. Burkhard JUNG, Mayor of Leipzig, and H.E. Mr. Lorenzo RAVANO, Ambassador of the Principality of Monaco to Germany. The ceremony began in front of the Capa Haus, named after American war reporter and photographer Robert CAPA. This symbolic location is where the photo was taken of US Army soldier Raymond J. BOWMAN, the last man to die in combat, killed two weeks before the end of World War II in Europe. A piece of music
“La guerre est finie” (The War is Over) by artists David TIMM & Reiko BROCKELT opened the commemoration, followed by speeches and the laying of a wreath, then a minute of silence. At the end, a reading of the “Robert Capa Manifesto” was given.
On this occasion, H.S.H. Prince Albert II was also present at the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the “Foundation for Post Conflict Development,” of which he is the patron. The Sovereign was received by Mrs. Claudia Abate, whose father, Mr. Frank A. ABATE, served in the same battalion as Mr. Raymond J. BOWMAN.
After the speech given by Mrs. ABATE, a reading by
Mr. Antony ABATE, son of Mr. Frank ABATEA, Dr.
BRAUMANN presented the “Citizen Movement” and then the film “Hitler's Last Victims - Leipzig and the End of the War.” Richard READ, journalist, two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, grandson of Major Richard EATON, who took part in the fighting for Leipzig and was also present in the Abtnaundorf camp shortly after the massacre, honored the event with his presence, having come specially from the United States for the commemorations.
Alongside Mrs. ABATE, H.S.H. Prince Albert II and Mrs. BUBBIO presented the “FPCD 20th Anniversary Award” to the Capa Haus Initiative and then visited the permanent exhibition “War is Over,” in the presence of Mrs. Michelle TAFUR, U.S. Consul.
