Students set an example for peace: exhibition about the end of the war in Gadebusch

Students set an example for peace: exhibition about the end of the war in Gadebusch

In Gadebusch, a small, picturesque town, an impressive exhibition on the end of the Second World War is currently taking place. This elaborately designed show is the result of years of effort by students from the local high school and committed members of the senior citizens' advisory board. Loud Northern Courier The initiators want to send a strong signal for peace with their project. Visitors can discover historical photos, texts and documents that have both local and national references until August 24, 2025.

The students invested an impressive 100 hours viewing documents, researching and even speaking to contemporary witnesses. Among these is Wilhelm Dierk, who shares his personal experiences at the end of the war in Gadebusch. Mayor Arne Schlien describes the exhibition as one of the highlights of the city's 800th anniversary and emphasizes how important it is to focus on the topics of distress, misery, flight and expulsion.

The dark chapter of flight and expulsion

The exhibition not only illustrates the regional aspects of the end of the war, but also addresses the massive refugee movements that took place in connection with the Second World War. According to estimates, around twelve million people had to flee or were expelled after 1945, which represented a dramatic change in the German population structure. After NDR Historians estimated that between 12 and 18 million Germans were affected between 1944/45 and 1950.

The escape from the German eastern territories, especially East Prussia, Silesia and Pomerania, did not begin until after the official end of the war on May 8, 1945. As early as 1944, many civilians were afraid of the advancing Soviet troops and the expected retaliation. Reports of horror and atrocities drove them to flee, often under extreme conditions. Loud Planet knowledge They experienced hunger, cold and violence on their often arduous journeys to the west, and many died under tragic circumstances.

A place of remembrance and discussion

The exhibition in Gadebusch not only presents history, but also creates space for exchange. Apart from the impressive exhibits, personal discussion sessions take place in the museum complex on Tuesdays, where those interested can enter into dialogue with contemporary witnesses. Seniors' Advisory Council Chairwoman Elli Brusch expressed concern that people could forget the lessons of history too quickly and appealed to visitors to think about peace, especially in today's world when conflict is still widespread.

The opening hours of the exhibition are Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Anyone in the region should not miss this opportunity. The exhibition is not only a look back at a turbulent past, but also a significant step towards a peaceful future.