Genitive verb 'gedenken' (to commemorate)

gedenken is a solemn, ceremonial verb meaning to commemorate / to remember (honourably). It governs a genitive object and is typical of memorial speeches, anniversaries and formal occasions.

Pattern: gedenken + genitive.

• Wir gedenken der Opfer. - We commemorate the victims.
• Die Nation gedachte der Gefallenen. - The nation commemorated the fallen.
• Man gedenkt seiner mit großer Dankbarkeit. - He is remembered with great gratitude.

Do not confuse this with the colloquial gedenken + zu + Infinitiv meaning to intend to: Was gedenkst du zu tun? (What do you intend to do?). That construction takes no genitive object.

Common mistakes:

• Using an + Akkusativ as with sich erinnern (wrong: Wir gedenken an die Opfer).
• Replacing the genitive with a dative (wrong: Wir gedenken den Opfern).

'gedenken' (to commemorate) takes a genitive object.

Solemn 'to commemorate'; the object is in the genitive.

'gedenken' (ehrend erinnern) verlangt den Genitiv.