Chemnitz: NSU documentary center should make victim stories visible

Chemnitz: NSU documentary center should make victim stories visible

in Chemnitz, the dark legacy of the right-wing extremist terrorist network NSU (National Socialist subsoil) is now being worked up with a new NSU documentary center. Initiators from various civil society associations have bundled their strength to create a place of remembrance that not only serves as an archive for the terrible deeds, but also puts the stories of the victims for the foreground. This multimedia exhibition entitled "Open Process" should give the victims a voice and shed light on the tragic circumstances of their murders.

a city in the shadow of the perpetrators

gamze Kubaşık, daughter of one of the NSU victims, sums it up: "Chemnitz is a 'perpetrator city' for all of us." It is actively involved in the construction of the center and emphasizes the urgency to take into account the perspectives of those affected. Minister of Culture Roth speaks of a "state failure" in the clarification of this murders and criticizes that the victims were often made perpetrators. The foundation of the center is a step to reflect on these mistakes and recognize social responsibility.

The Mayor of Chemnitz, Sven Schulze, sees the center as part of the Cultural Capital year 2025 and emphasizes the need to find a balance. While Chemnitz is confronted with his dark past, not every resident should be stigmatized as a perpetrator. The center will also serve as a model project for a planned documentation center in Berlin, which underlines the importance of this initiative.

The city of Chemnitz was once a retreat of the NSU kernel trio, which between 2000 and 2007 carried out a devastating series of murder of at least ten people with a migration background. Your deeds, supported by a network of accomplices, remained undetected for years. The revelations about the failure of the authorities have led to numerous committees of investigation in the past. Chemnitz remains a focus even after a fatal knife attack 2018, where right -wing extremist violence and new networks continue to make headlines.