disasters
Eschede train crash 25 years ago
An ICE passes the memorial for the victims of the Eschede ICE accident. photo
© Julian Stratenschulte/dpa
Eschede stands for the terrible ICE accident 25 years ago. The 101 dead are to be commemorated in the town in the Lüneburg Heath. Those left behind will probably never forget the catastrophe.
On the morning of June 3, 1998, the Intercity-Express 884 “Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen” crashed into a concrete bridge at 200 kilometers per hour. The cause of the accident in Eschede, Lower Saxony, is a broken wheel tire that got caught on a switch in front of the bridge. 101 people died and 105 passengers were injured in the worst rail accident in German history. The names of the victims can be read on concrete steles at the Eschede memorial north-east of Hanover. The anniversary of the tragedy is now upon us.
25 years later, the devastating accident is still very present for the bereaved and helpers. The train was on its way from Munich to Hamburg. Heinrich Löwen, spokesman for the bereaved, wrote a book entitled “ICE 884 – after the ICE disaster in Eschede, memories, experiences and insights” for the anniversary. He emphasizes that remembering and mourning together is important.
“It’s not a story that you tick off like that, it touches you,” says the 78-year-old Bavarian, who lost his wife and daughter at the time. “It’s not necessarily easier than it used to be, many of us have also gotten older.” And sometimes lonely too. Such a day evokes a lot.
Long struggle for compensation
In his book, he describes the long struggle for compensation (30,000 marks per fatality) and the disappointment with the legal process. Criminal proceedings against the railway and the wheel tire manufacturer were discontinued in 2003. “I can’t complain about the relationship with Deutsche Bahn, but the accident was absolutely avoidable,” says Löwen. The wheel control was neglected, there was no awareness that a wheel could break.
“It’s been so long, many say it must be good now. But it’s a very difficult memory for those affected,” says psychologist Georg Pieper about the consequences of a disaster like Eschede. “Many are feeling bad before the anniversary, there is a lot of tension.” Pieper looked after victims and relatives of the ICE disaster. He is considered one of the most experienced trauma experts and was also on duty after the shooting spree in Erfurt in 2002 and the Borken mine accident in 1988.
“I think such commemorations are very important to honor the dead and to do justice to the suffering of those affected. Nothing is healed, but silence is even worse,” says Pieper. “It’s true that a lot is fading, but for many relatives it’s as if it just happened. Time doesn’t matter,” he explains.
“Time doesn’t heal all wounds”
After so many years, many would look at what had happened in a more forgiving manner, and that was helpful. “Time doesn’t heal all wounds, but it makes you calmer, more prudent.” The crisis psychologist explains that this happens to people who have talked a lot about it and also cried. People who withdraw, on the other hand, often become bitter.
Last year, an event organized by the local rifle club on June 3 caused excitement and a lack of understanding among the bereaved. Because the 100-year celebration was canceled during the pandemic, it was made up for several days in 2022. Mayor Heinrich Lange defended the revelers, especially since there was silence during the commemoration at lunchtime.
There is one again this year. A silent commemoration at the memorial is planned for Saturday. A railway spokesman announced that the plan was for Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP), Bahn boss Richard Lutz and State Transport Minister Olaf Lies (SPD) to speak. Afterwards there is a get-together for the bereaved.