Great response - Documentation Center on the NSU takes stock

The Chemnitz Documentation Center commemorates the ten murder victims of the far-right NSU terror cell in an exhibition / Photo: Hendrik Schmidt/dpa

Expectations exceeded - around 15,000 visitors in the first year

The show, entitled "Open Process", goes much further. It addresses the long-standing failure of investigative authorities to solve the series of racist murders, German migration history, the continuity of right-wing terror in Germany and the gaps that still exist in the investigation of the NSU complex - for example with regard to shredded files that have been kept under lock and key. In addition to the exhibition, the center also offers an archive on the NSU complex and a so-called assembly - spaces for educational work and participation.

Around 15,000 visitors were counted last year, Krzywinski summarizes. All offers were fully booked and some requests had to be turned down. "Our expectations were exceeded on the positive side. This shows the relevance of the work we do here." There have already been many inquiries this year too.

Krzywinski calls for further investigation into NSU terror

In order to continue the work beyond the Capital of Culture year, a new non-profit limited company has been founded as the supporting organization. The majority of the funding of around 2.6 million euros for this year's work is provided by the state, with the federal government also contributing a small amount. However, the managing director regrets that the funding has to be fought for from year to year.

"We are grateful that the state is taking responsibility by including it in the budget until 2028," says Krzywinski. "However, as the promised funds fall well short of the actual need, securing the work in the long term remains a constant challenge."

The current trial at the Dresden Higher Regional Court against suspected NSU confidante Susann E. shows that the name "Open Trial" continues to be the program, "The support network of the NSU trio has still not been uncovered," explains Krzywinski. Right-wing terrorist Beate Zschäpe has the necessary knowledge, but her statements so far have not shown that she was rightly included in the drop-out program for neo-Nazis. "There are more questions than the feeling that people are contributing to clarification here."

Programme 2026: Films, music and theater

This year's programme of events includes a film series on Jewish and migrant life, workshops on hip-hop as a resistant culture and a children's and neighborhood festival. In addition, the play "Also Germans among the Victims" by Tuğsal Moğul will be shown in October, which reportedly deals with the state's failure in the NSU complex and focuses on the perspective of relatives. A concert by the queer choir canta:re from Berlin is planned for the fall. Various events are to be held in Zwickau and Chemnitz to mark the 15th anniversary of the NSU terror cell's self-disclosure in November. The concrete plans for this are still in the early stages, according to reports.

Chemnitz and Zwickau were once retreats of the NSU. The core trio from Thuringia lived here undisturbed for years, had numerous supporters and organized their series of murders of at least ten people - eight small business owners of Turkish origin, one of Greek origin and a policewoman. The trio is also responsible for several bomb attacks; in south-west Saxony itself, they committed several robberies.

Great response - Documentation Center on the NSU takes stock

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Expectations exceeded - around 15,000 visitors in the first year

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