50 Jahre Besuchsprogramm des Berliner Senats für NS-Verfolgte

12. 11. 2021 – 13.3.2022

Bastion Kronprinz

The Berlin Senate’s Emigrant Programme has been in existence for over 50 years: While the Federal Republic of Germany was gradually coming to terms with its National Socialist past, the Berlin Senate launched the Emigrants Programme in 1969. Former Berliners who had to leave the city due to persecution under fascism were invited to see their old home again. Over 35,000 people, the majority of them of Jewish origin, accepted the offer. They are shown in this exhibition as they make the journey to Berlin – despite reservations and traumatic experiences – from all over the world. This includes, in particular, biographies of Jewish Spandauers who visit their former district of residence after fleeing Germany.

The exhibition was created by Senatskanzlei Berlin and Gedenkstätte Deutscher Widerstand and further developed by the Jugendgeschichtswerkstatt Spandau.

Fig.: aktuell – Zeitschrift für ehemalige Berlinerinnen und Berliner, Ausgabe 8/Dezember 1971
Photo: Wolfgang Bachmann
Design: Maximilian Jung

Exhibition catalog

Already in the course of the exhibition conception of the Gedenkstätte Deutscher Widerstand the catalog “Charterflug in die Vergangenheit. 50 Jahre Besuchsprogramm des Berliner Senats für NS-Verfolgte” was conceived.

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The Berlin Senate’s invitation program for former refugees also helped to advance the culture of remembrance in our country, which at the time was still in its infancy. It allowed the people of the city and the former Berliners to make new contacts and renew old ties.
(Michael Müller, former governing mayor of Berlin)

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It is recommended reading not only as a preparation or follow-up to the exhibition – interested people will be able to learn more about the city’s history and the basis of current programs and initiatives. The group tours were discontinued in 2010, since then only individual tours are offered. In addition, the program was expanded in 2016 to include inter-district encounter work as part of the “Stolpersteine” initiative and visits by former forced laborers in Berlin.

Location

Bastion Kronprinz

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