At the crime scene in front of the supermarket in Brodowiner Ring, 2022 initiatives commemorated Nguyễn Photo: Ullstein picture
By Birgit Buerkner
Nguyễn Văn Tú was murdered on April 24, 1992 in front of passers-by in Berlin-Marzahn. The former GDR contract worker from Vietnam was the victim of a right-wing extremist attack. 31 years after the crime he gets a memorial.
It happened between 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. in front of the department store on Brodowiner Ring. The place was full of people. Nguyễn (29), who had been released from a rubber factory in Waltershausen near Gotha after reunification, visited friends in Berlin. They sold cigarettes and textiles in front of the supermarket.
Nguyễn Văn Tú came to the GDR as a contract worker and wanted to return to his homeland after reunification Photo: Private
The 21-year-old DVU sympathizer Mike L. and his buddies got in the way of the stands and kicked them down. Nguyễn Văn Tú wanted to explain to the attackers that they had no right to act like this. This enraged Mike L. and he suddenly thrust a butterfly knife into Nguyễn’s chest.
No one rushed to help or called an ambulance. The friends took Nguyễn to a clinic. He died there – despite emergency surgery. The court recognized the motive as “nationalistic arrogance against the foreign race or nationality of the traders” and sentenced Mike L. to four and a half years in prison for bodily harm resulting in death.
A few meters further on the meadow in front of house number 22, the memorial is to be set up Photo: Michael Körner
To this day, initiatives have fought for a dignified commemoration. Now the district has made it possible – with 15,000 euros from participatory budgeting. Left and Greens also launched an application to secure the location in the development plan. Next week, a jury will present the winning design for the memorial.
Nguyễn’s life ended shortly before he wanted to return to his homeland. His over 70-year-old parents, his five siblings and his bride were waiting for him there. The wedding was already planned.