04/14/2026
Today, we remember.
On Yom HaShoah (April 13–14, 2026), we pause in solemn reflection to honor the six million Jewish men, women, and children who were murdered during the Holocaust, along with the millions of other innocent victims of N**i persecution.
This day is not only about remembrance—it is a call to vigilance. A reminder of what can happen when hatred, antisemitism, and intolerance are allowed to grow unchecked.
As Freemasons, we stand in solemn remembrance, reflecting on one of the darkest chapters in human history and the profound loss of life that occurred. We honor the victims, we reflect on the stories of survivors, and we recommit ourselves to standing firmly against hatred in all its forms.
For Freemasonry, this history is deeply personal.
When the N**i regime rose to power, Freemasonry was declared an enemy of the state. In 1934, Wilhelm Frick, the Reich Minister of the Interior, openly threatened the elimination of Masonic Lodges. Lodges across Germany and occupied territories were forcibly closed, their property seized, and their members excluded from society. Freemasonry was not only suppressed in N**i Germany, but also in Fascist Italy, Spain, and Soviet Russia.
An estimated 80,000 to over 200,000 Freemasons were persecuted, imprisoned, and murdered under totalitarian regimes. Many of our Brethren were sent to concentration camps, where they were classified as political prisoners and forced to wear the inverted red triangle. Yet even in the face of unimaginable suffering, many remained steadfast in their commitment to the principles of brotherhood, equality, and truth.
The threat Freemasonry posed to these regimes was clearly understood. In 1938, Reinhard Heydrich, head of the N**i secret police, described Freemasonry as a “supra-national spiritual movement” that promoted unity across race, religion, and politics—values fundamentally opposed to fascist and communist ideologies.
And yet, even in the darkest times, light endured.
A quiet and powerful symbol emerged among German Freemasons—the blue forget-me-not flower.
Originally adopted in 1926 by the German Grand Lodge of the Sun, the forget-me-not pin replaced the traditional Square and Compasses. In 1938, the same flower design was used by a N**i charity campaign—ironically allowing Freemasons to wear the symbol discreetly without drawing suspicion. What appeared ordinary to others became a silent act of defiance, a hidden bond of identity, and a symbol of resistance among the Brethren.
Despite persecution, imprisonment, and death, Freemasonry endured.
After the war, in 1947, the Grand Lodge of the Sun reopened in Bayreuth. In 1948, the United Grand Lodges of Germany formally adopted the forget-me-not as an official emblem. Today, Freemasons around the world wear this small blue flower as a powerful symbol:
• Of remembrance for those who perished
• Of solidarity with all victims of genocide
• Of resilience in the face of oppression
• And of an unbreakable commitment to the principles we hold dear
We remember the six million Jewish lives lost.
We remember the millions of others who suffered and died.
We remember our fallen Brethren.
We remember not only their suffering—but their courage, their resilience, and their unwavering dedication to the ideals of Freemasonry.
As we reflect on the Holocaust, let us recommit ourselves to the principles of brotherhood, compassion, and justice. Let us stand firmly against hatred, prejudice, and intolerance wherever they exist. Let us ensure that the voices of those who suffered are never silenced, and that the lessons of history are never forgotten.
Because remembrance is not passive—it is a responsibility.
Never Again.
