Les Amis residents see Project 70273 progress

Les Amis residents visit the quilts they helped to create for Project 70273 – a project which commemorates the murder of the physically and mentally disabled by the Nazi regime.

Each resident created a block consisting of a piece of white fabric and two appliqué red crosses, these were then stitched together to create different quilts. The Jersey-made quilts were on display at the Link Gallery at the Jersey Museum.

The 70273 Project is a worldwide collaborative art project commemorating the lives of the 70,273 physically & mentally disabled people murdered by German Nazis in 1940-41. The aim is to create 70,273 blocks to represent each person killed.

The Aktion T4 Programme saw physicians assess medical records to deem whether someone was an economic burden to Nazi society. Each medical record was assessed by three physicians. If a person was deemed unsuitable their record was marked with a red cross. If a record received two red crosses then the person was killed.

Shaun Findlay, Les Amis’ Managing Director, said: “If our residents had been alive in Germany during the Nazi regime they would have been marked with two red crosses that would have sealed their fate. I am so glad that Kim approached us and gave our residents an opportunity to participate in this thought-provoking project. Visiting the quilts helped our residents understand the global movement they are part of with Project 70273."

Kim Monins, Project 70273 volunteer, said: “There are many atrocities that took place during WW2 but this is the first project that has endeavoured to commemorate the lives of the physically and mentally disabled that were killed for no reason. I am so fortunate that we found a space in Jersey to display the quilts Jersey organisations have created. It was a poignant moment for all when the Les Amis residents visited the display.”