Exhibition about Willi Stoph: Memories from the Kaolinwerk Caminau

Exhibition about Willi Stoph: Memories from the Kaolinwerk Caminau

Caminau, Deutschland - On March 25, 1981, Willi Stoph, the then chairman of the GDR Ministerial Council, held a significant event in the Kaolinwerk Caminau. When taking up a new funding and processing plant, there was a historical moment for the company. The Kaolinwerk, which has played an important role in the region in 1973, which was completed in 1973, which was completed in 1978 with the last partial object, has now been recognized in an exhibition. This is entitled "Kaolinwerk Caminau-periods of time until 1989" and is opened by the Rak Königswartha History Association on June 21, at the same time as the celebrations for the 135th anniversary of the local fire brigade.

The exhibition presents an impressive collection of photographs, including those that document the “big day” in 1981, and illuminates the challenges that the workers had to face in the Kaolinwerk. The chairwoman of the history association, Annemarie Rentsch, hopes to find numerous contemporary witnesses that can share their experiences and memories. Mathias Haase, who was the technical director of the work from 1980 to 2024, will also be among the older employees who can give valuable insights.

The Kaolinwerk: A flagship company

The Kaolinwerk Caminau, which belongs to the quartzwerke group based in Frechen, has been in operation for 115 years and has made a name for itself. Since the middle of the 19th century, Kaolin has been broken down in the Upper Lusatia region, known for its wealth of raw materials. The Kaolin, which is of great importance for the production of porcelain and papers, was discovered in 1904 by a farmer who encountered the valuable occurrence in a fountain cancellation. Within a few years, the mining experienced a significant increase, especially after the Second World War, when the Soviet occupying powers pushed the company.

In 1984, production reached a maximum of 135,000 tons - a huge increase in considering that only 15,000 tons were funded in 1950. In the 1960s, the work even received a connecting track to make it easier to transport the valuable raw materials. Today the plant employs around 105 people and is still planning to successfully operate by recruiting new customers, especially tile manufacturers.

shape the future

With a reduced rock from a deposit of around 2.5 km², the Kaolinwerk can breathe a sigh of relief: the dismantling is expected to be secured for the next 25 years. In the meantime, the work has tried to reorganize the market in recent years, while the paper industry is faced with challenges. You can see great potential in working with companies in industrial ceramic production, especially in northern Italy.

The past and the challenges of work in the Kaolinwerk show us how the economic landscape has changed for decades. The upcoming exhibition offers special insights into this story, where memories of the Kaolinwerk and its role in GDR history are awaited.

The visitors are cordially invited not only to visit the main exhibition, but also to explore other interesting exhibitions in the club room at Gutsstraße 4c. These celebrations are an excellent opportunity to experience the history of the region and the Kaolinwerk Caminau up close.