Weimar revealed: The dark past of the Gauforum in focus!

Weimar revealed: The dark past of the Gauforum in focus!

The city of Weimar, known for its rich history, attracts millions of visitors every year. But while sights like Goethe's House and the National Theater attract the masses, an important historical complex remains undiscovered: the Weimar Gauforum. This impressive building, planned in the 1930s and 1940s, reflects Germany's dark past during the Nazi era. Today it will be the setting for a moving exhibition about forced labor under National Socialism, which is scheduled to open on May 8, 2024.

Built with the aim of creating a center of power for the Nazi Party, the Gauforum was part of a larger vision that would be realized in many cities. Nevertheless, Weimar remains the only example that was actually implemented. The monumental building, often described as cold and forbidding, stands in stark contrast to the people who want to keep the dark history alive. This exhibition, which previously toured various European cities, now finds its final home in this former center of power. It serves as a reminder of what happened in this place and gives the victims a voice.

Myths and legends

The Gauforum is more than just a historical building; it is shrouded in myths that have existed since the building was built. Rumors of secret underground floors and hidden catacombs persist. It was rumored that art treasures belonging to the Nazi Gauleiter Fritz Sauckel and perhaps even the legendary Amber Room were deposited there. Such stories contribute to the mysterious aura of the Gauforum, whose construction continued after the Second World War despite being half-finished, but would remain a ghostly secret.

After the war, the place initially served as the seat of the Soviet military administration in Thuringia before being used pragmatically during the GDR era. The actual history that lies within this place has often been ignored. Nevertheless, the Gauforum remains an eerie place that raises both memories and questions - questions that the exhibition on forced labor seeks to answer. It will be housed in part of the former building, so that the history that took place here is placed in the context of the present.

Michael Erler's film takes viewers on a journey of discovery through the history of the Gauforum. Historians and contemporary witnesses have their say, and the audience witnesses how young craftsmen and designers put together the elaborate exhibition. The retelling of this story is not only a journey into the past, but also an important examination of the experiences of forced laborers and the horrors of the Third Reich.

This historical theme offers visitors the opportunity to deal with a dark era in German history and to reflect on the responsibility of those born afterward. With this exhibition, the Weimar Gauforum, long in the shadow of its own history, becomes a place of remembrance and learning.

The opening of the exhibition on May 8, 2024 is not only a historical review, but also an invitation not to forget the lessons of the past. With the aim of initiating a broader discussion about forced labor and the moral consequences of this time, the Gauforum will take on a new role as a place of remembrance. Details on this topic are in a detailed report on www.ardmediathek.de to read.