Can you help? All kinds of support and help for the project would be welcome:
- publicising the Rimini story in your area
- translation and publishing of the above text in your country
- help in the search for sponsors
- direct financial support
The time has come: 2025! 80 years!
A true and very emotional story that will last forever, today more than 80 years ago:
with each other, for each other, the deep bond of faith in oneself and one's fellow human beings, God and the world, in the power of music and humanity. 150,000 men fighting for survival on the beach in Rimini. The sounds of the organ, singing together in the morning and evening with the organ, singing "Great God, we praise you" together: light in everyday life, courage and strength to persevere, a "survival drug", according to the survivors. "We could only hold out because of the organ!" After returning from the prison camp, the networking among the former German soldiers of the Rimini prison camp continued and the big topic was and is: our organ, where is our organ, what happened to the organ after the camp was disbanded, the organ must be resurrected.
Michael Grüber has been researching the history of the Rimini organ for 30 years and has spoken to numerous former camp inmates and made many personal contacts, including with the family of organ builder Werner Renkewitz. Many former camp inmates have entrusted Michael Grüber with their information, photos, texts and documents. It was always the same at all former camp discussions, even after 70-80 years: Tears of emotion at the thought of the organ and the music, the daily "Great God, we praise you" together with the organ.
This website has been online for 10 years and the children and grandchildren of former members keep getting in touch: my father and grandfather always talked about the organ, the organ must be resurrected, whatever the cost. In 2019, a large-scale public relations campaign was planned with the then Minister for Europe in Baden-Württemberg, Guido Wolf, with concerts and exhibitions to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and the 75th anniversary of the Rimini organ. These projects all fell victim to coronavirus in 2020.
Now is the time for the "Peace Organ Europe"!!! The 80th anniversary is approaching!
The wonderful Rimini organ story, the radiance of the organ sounds and the music should reach people again in a miraculous way, tell their beautiful story of peace and humanity and togetherness in this world. Without any big words, simply through the music. The "Rimini Organ" is to be rebuilt and resurrected as the "Peace Organ of Europe" in order to then travel from Berlin to Rimini on a special organ track. The long journey from north to south will include stops and concerts in several major cities and outstanding locations. A small organ makes big history!