New digital memorial site in Chemnitz: Commemoration of NSU victims!

New digital memorial site in Chemnitz: Commemoration of NSU victims!

A digital space of remembrance that deals with the NSU complex will be inaugurated in Chemnitz on Friday, August 15th. This project, developed in close collaboration with Causa Creations, is intended to complement the educational offerings of the newly opened “Open Process” documentation center. The aim is to address the absence of a memorial site in the city. From 1998 to 2011, the terrorist cell of the National Socialist Underground (NSU) found shelter in Chemnitz, murdering a total of ten people and injuring many more people in robberies and explosive attacks. To this day, the NSU complex remains controversial and largely unexplained, as [Chemnitz2025] also highlights.

The innovative app not only commemorates the nine murdered men and police officer Michèle Kiesewetter, but also highlights the voices of survivors and relatives. Among others, the victims Enver Şimşek, Abdurrahim Özüdoğru, and Habil Kılıç are listed. This memorial app will be artistically inspired by street art and printmaking, offering a new visual experience to commemorate the tragic events. Gamze Kubaşık, daughter of the victim Mehmet Kubaşık, vehemently emphasizes the need for an urban memorial site in Chemnitz. Her words underline the central desire for a living culture of remembrance, as emphasized by Georg Hobmeier, developer of the app, who sees the project as a punitive but also hopeful gesture.

A historical context

The past chapter of East German history is not easily forgotten. The 1990s are not called the “baseball bat years” without reason, as the experiences of this time provided fertile ground for right-wing extremist violence. The “Open Process” documentation center, which opened on May 25, takes these topics into account with an exhibition. In the center, visitors can not only commemorate the victims, but also reflect on the migration stories and daily racism of the time. This goes hand in hand with a collection campaign that is looking for materials on the NSU, right-wing violence and racism - an appeal to everyone who has memories or documents from this time.

The Documentation Center team invites people to contribute everyday objects, photos, letters and more to create a comprehensive archive that will remain open until November 27th. The classic model is not used, but emphasis is also placed on personal stories. Anyone who has something to contribute is welcome to contribute their own personal memories.

Training and memory

Another step in shedding light on the NSU's dark history is a workshop that focuses on the complex's chronicle. Here participants can discuss the perspectives of the victims and their relatives and question the role of the authorities, media and civil society. The current forms of right-wing extremism in Germany are examined in groups, connecting the tragic events of the past with the present. Such educational offerings are essential to learn from history and keep society vigilant.

Chemnitz is now not only a place of remembrance, but also a center for processing and dialogue. The digital offer, the exhibition in the documentation center and the workshops all contribute to ensuring that the past does not remain in the dark. The city thus becomes an important venue for commemoration and education about a tragic but also important time in German history.

For more information, visit the articles on [l-iz] and [Chemnitz2025], as well as the educational offer on the NSU complex on [Nuremberg Museums].