Giessen remembers: New museum for GDR refugees opens on June 17th

Giessen remembers: New museum for GDR refugees opens on June 17th

Something is happening in Giessen - and not just in terms of urban development. On June 17th, an important place in our history, the former emergency camp for refugees from the GDR, will open as an interactive museum. From this date, interested visitors can follow the fates of more than 900,000 people who found refuge in Giessen between 1950 and 1990. The opening will not only address the camp's glory days and challenges, but also the stories of contemporary witnesses such as Edith Kretschmer, who was born in 1926 and fled with her family from Moravia to Giessen as a young woman. Her first impression of the city was anything but exhilarating: “A city full of rubble and black soldiers,” she reported. Their story, along with many others, will be presented in a new place of learning and remembrance on Meisenbornweg. The FAZ emphasizes in their report that this place not only reminds us of the past, but also builds a bridge to current discussions about immigration.

The emergency camp in Giessen has long been the most important gateway to freedom for hundreds of thousands of people fleeing the GDR and the former Eastern Bloc states. The opening of the interactive museum will be led by historian Florian Greiner and former Federal President Joachim Gauck is expected to be a keynote speaker. A memorial stone was placed in front of the museum that commemorates the popular uprising in the GDR in 1953, the violent suppression of which marked a deep turning point in the country's history. The inscription “Freedom - Love - Respect” from the refugee wave of 2015 also creates a connection to the present, which addresses today's refugee debates.

A look into the past

The permanent museum will present over 1,000 photos, 55 screens with documentaries and 30 eyewitness interviews. This multimedia presentation aims to make the historical context, which is often forgotten today, clear. Another contemporary witness, former professional footballer Norbert Nachtweih, will also have his say and describe his experiences. Visitors can also see original documents and a miniature replica of the camp, bringing memories to life. As different as people's stories are, they are united by their desire for a safe and dignified life.

We know that Hermann Frankfurth arrived in Giessen with his family on October 6, 1989. For many, the camp was a symbol of hope and freedom, as the Federal Republic transferred 95,847 deutschmarks to the GDR for ransomed people in order to take around 33,000 people to the West. The camp was the largest initial reception center in West Germany until 1990 and was also well attended when, after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, hundreds knocked on the doors in search of asylum.

A place of learning for the future

The state government has been working on converting the emergency room into an interactive learning and remembrance space since 2018, with completion scheduled for summer 2025. A building is restored to its 1960s condition. The exhibition will not only shed light on the refugee movements of the post-war period, but also address social life in the camp and the challenges of accommodation. In this context, further training for teachers on the conception of the permanent exhibition will also take place, which will begin next year in order to create an educational framework for young people. Hessen.de provides information about the planned program and offers for schools that are intended to convey the importance of democracy and the lessons of history.

This initiative is more than just an exhibition. It offers space for exchange, reflection and appreciation of the fates of the many people who went through the Giessen emergency room. For the credibility of history, it is crucial that contemporary witnesses continue to have their say and that younger generations can learn the values ​​from these experiences.