Memorial for Refugees

Around 50,000 refugees, including 21,000 Jewish refugees, found asylum in Switzerland during the Second World War. Due to the undeveloped "green" border as well as the rail-way tracks of the German Reichsbahn running on Swiss territory, Riehen had special significance for refugees. A memorial in the former signalman's building of the Reichsbahn now commemorates the fate of those who came across the border at the time. It presents authentic accounts of refugees, addresses the special role of Riehen as a border town and deals with Switzerland's refugee policy during the Second World War.