80 years after the liberation of Leipzig from National Socialist rule, the city is commemorating these historic events with a week of remembrance. From April 13 to 17, numerous events will take place at various locations in the city to commemorate the liberation by the US Army and to offer the people of Leipzig a space for reflection and exchange. All interested parties are invited to take part in this important week. Further information on the events can be found at www.leipzig.de/gedenken.
On April 18, 1945, US troops from the 2nd and 69th Infantry Divisions reached Leipzig and liberated the city from Nazi rule. The establishment of the Allied Military Government and the headquarters of the VII US Army Corps in the "Round Corner" marked the beginning of a new era for the city. The commemorative week starts on Sunday, April 13, with a festive concert at the Monument to the Battle of the Nations at 5 pm. The event will be introduced by speeches from Cultural Mayor Dr. Skadi Jennicke, Dr. Anselm Hartinger and US Consul General John R. Crosby. The installation "Vom Ende des Schreckens - 80 Jahre Kriegsende in Leipzig" will be opened by Steffen Poser. The event will be accompanied by music from the "Alliance Brass Quintet" and "emBRASSment".
Also on Thursday, 17 April, a central commemorative event will be organized in cooperation with the Forced Labour Memorial, the Memorial Museum in the "Round Corner" and the Capa House citizens' initiative. The route leads from the memorial in Abtnaundorf via the "Runde Ecke" to the Capa House. The commemoration will begin at 12 noon at the Abtnaundorf memorial, where Lord Mayor Burkhard Jung and Dr. Josephine Ulbricht will talk about the massacre in the Leipzig-Thekla subcamp. This will be followed at 1 p.m. by a ceremony at the "Round Corner", where Tobias Hollitzer and Alan Meltzer will make contributions. The event will end at 2 p.m. in front of the Capa House with speeches by Burkhard Jung, Alan Meltzer and Michael Kretschmer as well as music by Prof. David Timm and Reiko Brockelt. Capa's famous photo series makes the Capa House an important place of remembrance.
During the week of celebrations, the Capa House will be hosting various exhibitions, including "Paths of Liberation: From D-Day to Elbe Day". This exhibition can be seen from April 16 and features an interactive, digital map documenting the advance of the US Army. Two young people report on social media under #RoadtoFreedom about their journey along the route taken by the US troops at the time.
On April 16, the Capa-Haus citizens' initiative invites you to an international symposium at the Alte Börse at 2 pm. Under the title "The power of images - Leipzig 1945, Robert Capa and his memory in Europe", Capa's photographs and their significance will be discussed. Due to limited places, registration is required.
In addition, there will be a tour entitled "Liberated in Leipzig 1945: experiences and perspectives of forced labourers", organized by the Forced Labour Memorial, which starts at 5 pm on 16 April and ends at Plagwitz station.
Overall, the memorial week offers a comprehensive programme that combines historical remembrance and active exchange. It not only commemorates, but also draws a link to the present day and the importance of peace and reconciliation.
