For 20 years now, the Documentation Centre for Nazi Forced Labour has been a place of remembrance, learning and encounter. We warmly invite you to celebrate this anniversary with us. Alongside welcoming addresses from political and public figures and a panel discussion, the centrepiece of the ceremony will be the opening of our new special exhibition, ‘How do we remember? How do you remember?’.
The programme that follows is dedicated to bringing people together. We will be opening our new visitor area and the storage facilities for short presentations of special exhibits, and we will be offering themed guided tours. A particular highlight will be the historical and biographical dance theatre performance by Ute Delimat, which explores the forced labour experienced by her mother and grandmother.
Programme
10.45–11.45 am
Barrack 3 – Collection Storage Area
Silent Witnesses Speak – Brief insights into the collection storage area
(two 30-minute guided tours with limited numbers – register on the day)
12.00
Barrack 5 – Event Room
Ceremony & Exhibition Opening
Opening remarks: Dr Christine Glauning, Director of the Documentation Centre for Nazi Forced Labour | Maria Bering, Deputy Head of Office at the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media | Oliver Igel, District Mayor of Treptow-Köpenick | Bogdan Bartnikowski, concentration camp survivor and former forced labourer
Panel discussion: Jakub Deka, Chair of the Polish-German Reconciliation Foundation | Christine Glauning | Ronald de Ruiter, son of a Dutch forced labourer | Karoline Georg, Aktives Museum | Moderator: Nora Hespers | Music: Dejan Jovanović, accordion
2.00–3.15 pm
Barrack 5 – Event Hall
Prisoners of Our Own Memories – An autobiographical dance-reading about Nazi forced labour
Reading: Ute Delimat | Dance: Marie Zechiel | Harp: Gabriela Croitoru
Followed by a discussion with the artists
2.00–3.00 pm
Barrack 4 – Exhibition Space
Virgilio Comberlato, son of an Italian military internee, tells his father’s story in the exhibition.
3.30–4.30 pm
Barrack 3 – Collection Depot
Silent Witnesses Speak – Brief insights into the collection storage area (two 30-minute guided tours with limited numbers – register on the day)
3.30–5.30 pm
Memorial site and surrounding area
The camp grounds in the residential area – a sensory tour and educational session
With Karsten Feucht (sociologist, architect) and Rainer Düvell (artist, architect) As part of the Berlin Industrial Culture Festival ‘Für mehr Berlin: Hier lang!’
(Limited number of participants – please register: bildung_ns-zwangsarbeit@topographie.de)
4.00 pm
Barrack 2 – Exhibition space
“How do we remember? How do you remember?” – An exhibition on change and the significance of remembrance
Curated guided tour of the exhibition
Additional information
Dates
September 2026
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