By Marc Herwig

Haltern am See/Le Vernet - It was one of the biggest disasters in European aviation history: Ten years after the crash of a Germanwings plane on its way to Düsseldorf , the victims will be remembered on Monday with flowers and prayers.

150 people died in the crash in the French Alps on March 24, 2015.

Investigators are convinced that the mentally ill co-pilot deliberately caused the crash in order to take his own life.

Many relatives of the victims have traveled to the crash site near Le Vernet in the French department of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence to mark the anniversary. A memorial service was held there for the closest relatives only. The Germanwings parent company Lufthansa invites relatives there every year.

In Germany, the largest memorial service takes place in Haltern am See on the northern edge of the Ruhr region. An entire school group from the small town was on board the Airbus that crashed into a mountain massif on March 24, 2015 on its way from Barcelona to Düsseldorf.

"The Germanwings crash is a permanent part of our city's history," said Haltern's mayor Andreas Stegemann in the run-up to the event. "This shock, the deep sympathy felt by all citizens for the families and the question of why are still with us today."

At the Joseph-König-Gymnasium, pupils and teachers will lay down white roses for the 16 dead pupils and their two teachers. A memorial in the schoolyard commemorates the group, who were on their way back from an exchange with their Spanish partner school.

Their deaths had caused "immeasurably great pain to the school community", said North Rhine-Westphalian Education Minister Dorothee Feller (58, CDU ), referring to the anniversary.

Remembering the victims is still important for schools today. "In this way, many pupils today who did not know those who died can experience the power of love, friendship and solidarity."

At 10:41 a.m., the time of the crash, church bells will ring throughout the city. Wreaths will be laid at the municipal cemetery, where a symbolic classroom commemorates the group and where some of the students are buried. A memorial service is planned for the evening in St. Sixtus Church.

Commemorative services are also planned at the airports in Düsseldorf and Barcelona . A prayer service is planned at Düsseldorf Airport.

A book of condolences is available in the so-called Room of Silence, where employees and travelers can express their sympathy.