Expiration exhibition in Halle: Reports on bridge destruction 1945

Expiration exhibition in Halle: Reports on bridge destruction 1945

in Halle (Saale is currently an impressive outdoor exhibition that revives memories of a turbulent time. The exhibition entitled "Halles Brücken - 1945 and today" was moved to the Ziegelwiese on the Peißnitzbrücke and can probably be seen there until the end of August 2025. This presentation is part of the cultural themed year "City of Bridges. Years of the war ”.

What can visitors expect? The exhibition illuminates the destruction of nine bridges over the Saale, which was blown up by the Wehrmacht on April 14, 1945 to hinder the advance of the US forces. The most prominent bridges mentioned in this context include the Kröllwitz bridge, the Elisabeth Bridge and the Hafenbahnbrücke. This destruction led to a massive loss of transport connections for the civilian population, which only reinforced the stress of war.

The heart of the exhibition

Visitors have the opportunity to find out more from large-format book displays that contain both historical photographs as well as postcards and explanatory texts. The exhibition content ranges from the presentation of the destruction to the reconstruction of the bridges and provide extensive insights into the history of the infrastructure in Halle. These detailed representations are not only informative, but also invite reflections on the events at that time and their effects.

The open -air exhibition is a successor to a successful presentation at the Giebichenstein Bridge in April and shows that the topic of great interest in the population arouses. The visit is free of charge, which offers the opportunity to deal with urban history without hurdles. The exhibition was designed in cooperation with the city of Halle (Saale), the Red Ochse memorial and the Halle City Archives.

historical context and events of 1945

The destruction of the bridges is part of a dramatic story that culminated in April 1945. At that time Halle was the largest city in the German Reich, and the 104th American division approached the city. Under the leadership of lieutenant general Terry de la Mesa Allen, the goal of the troops was clear: the liberation of the city. The last defense systems under the command of Lieutenant General Anton Rathke were hardly durable in view of the intensifying situation.

Although the fight for Halle was bitter and the mayor tried to achieve a peaceful handover, the city was finally occupied by American forces on April 19, 1945. The civilian population played a crucial role when it passed on information about the positions of the German soldiers. The fight ended at 10:55 a.m. of the same day and the weapons were silent. These historical events and their consequences are part of the collective memory that wants to cause the exhibition.

Overall, the open -air exhibition "Halle's bridges - 1945 and today" not only represents a memory of past times, but also an invitation to everyone to deal with the history of the city and its development. For those who want to learn more about Halle and his bridges, there is a unique opportunity to look at historical dimensions in the context of today's reality of life. If you have become curious, you can get more information directly on the dubisthalle, hall.de and MDR pages.

Halle.de informs about the exhibition ...

MDR illuminates the events of 1945 ...