Stiftung Flucht, Vertreibung, Versöhnung, Foto: Markus Gröteke

About us

The supporting organisation of the Documentation Centre is the Foundation for Displacement, Expulsion, Reconciliation, which was established by the German Bundestag in December 2008 as a non-party, dependent foundation under public law. The Foundation is under the organising institution of the Foundation Deutsches Historisches Museum (DHM). It is funded by the State Minister for Culture and the Media.

Learn more

Boards

The bodies of the Foundation for Displacement, Expulsion, Reconciliation are the Foundation Board and the Scientific Advisory Board.

The Foundation Board of the Federal Foundation for Displacement, Expulsion, Reconciliation has the following composition:


For the German Bundestag:

  • Stephan Mayer MdB

  • Awet Tesfaiesus MdB

  • Marianne Schieder MdB

  • Thomas Hacker MdB


For the Federal Government:

  • Chairman: Dr. Andreas Görgen, Leitender Beamter bei der Beauftragten der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien (BKM)

  • Secretary of State Katja Keul MdB, Federal Foreign Office

  • Jörn Thießen, Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community


For the Federation of Expellees (BdV):

  • Prof. Dr. Bernd Fabritius

  • Stephan Grigat

  • Christian Knauer

  • Iris Ripsam MdB

  • Johann Thießen

  • Editha Westmann MdL


For the Evangelical Church in Germany:

  • Dr. Johann Hinrich Claussen

  • Prof. Dr. Katja Lembke


For the Catholic Church in Germany:

  • Weihbischof Dr. Reinhard Hauke

  • Dr. Jörg Lüer


For the Central Council of Jews in Germany:

  • Mark Dainow

  • Barbara Traub


Members by virtue of office:

  • Prof. Dr. Harald Biermann, President of the Foundation »Haus der Geschichte der Bundesrepublik Deutschland«

  • Prof. Dr. Raphael Gross, President of the Foundation »Deutsches Historisches Museum« as supporting foundation of the Foundation for Displacement, Expulsion, Reconciliation

The International Scientific Advisory Board advises the Foundation Board and the Director on technical issues in accordance with the Foundation's purpose. It consists of 13 members who are appointed by the Foundation Council.

The Scientific Advisory Board has the following composition:

  • Dr. Peter Becher, Adalbert Stifter Verein e.V., München

  • Dr. Mathias Beer, Institut für Donauschwäbische Geschichte und Landeskunde, Tübingen

  • Stellvertretende Vorsitzende: Dr. Simone Blaschke, Deutsches Auswandererhaus, Bremerhaven

  • Prof. Dr. Monika Fenn, Universität Potsdam, Historisches Institut, Potsdam

  • Prof. Dr. Mary Fulbrook, University College London, European Institute, London, Großbritannien

  • Prof. Dr. Hans-Lukas Kieser, Universität Zürich, Historisches Seminar, Zürich, Schweiz und University Newcastle, Centre for the History of Violence, Newcastle, Australien

  • Vorsitzender: Prof. Dr. Frank-Lothar Kroll, Technische Universität Chemnitz, Philosophische Fakultät, Chemnitz

  • Prof. Dr. Stephan Lehnstaedt, Touro College Berlin ―Campus am Rupenhorn, Berlin

  • Prof. Dr. Piotr Madajczyk, Instytut Studiów Politycznych PAN, Warschau, Polen

  • Ondřej Matějka, Institut für Erforschung totalitärer Regime, Prag, Tschechien

  • Prof. Dr. Norman Naimark, Stanford University, Department of History, Stanford, USA

  • Prof. Dr. Jochen Oltmer, Universität Osnabrück, Institut für Migrationsforschung und Interkulturelle Studien, Osnabrück

  • Univ.-Prof. Dr. Miloš Vec, Universität Wien, Institut für Rechts-und Verfassungsgeschichte, Wien, Österreich

History of the
Foundation

2005

In the coalition agreement of the CDU, CSU and SPD of November 2005, the three governing parties committed themselves "to the social and historical reappraisal of forced migration, displacement and expulsion". They decided to set a "visible sign" in Berlin "to [...] remember the injustice of expulsions and to outlaw expulsion forever".

2008

In March 2008, the Federal Government presented the concept for a "Visible Sign against Displacement and Expulsion". On this basis, the German Bundestag passed the law on the establishment of a foundation "German Historical Museum" (DHMG) in December 2008. Section 2 of the law regulates the establishment of the Foundation for Displacement, Expulsion, Reconciliation as a dependent foundation within the German Historical Museum Foundation.

2009

The constituent meeting of the Foundation Council of the Foundation for Displacement, Expulsion, Reconciliation took place on 13 May 2009. At its meeting in July 2009, the Board elected Prof. Dr. Manfred Kittel as Founding Director and appointed a Scientific Advisory Board.

Deutschlandhaus Das Deutschlandhaus vor dem Umbau, 2011 – © Stiftung Flucht, Vertreibung, Versöhnung, Foto: Maik Schulz

2010

The expanded Foundation Board, elected by the Bundestag on 7 July 2010, convened for its constituent meeting on 25 October 2010 under the chairmanship of the Commissioner for Culture and the Media, Minister of State Bernd Neumann. The members unanimously welcomed the "Basic Points for the Work of the Foundation for Displacement, Expulsion, Reconciliation and the planned Permanent Exhibition" drawn up by the Foundation as a good basis for consultation.

At its meeting on 22 November 2010, the Foundation Board appointed a new, expanded Scientific Advisory Board.


Following a competition, the firm of Marte.Marte Architekten ZT GmbH (Weiler/Austria) was commissioned with the conversion of the Deutschlandhaus at the Anhalter Bahnhof.

2011

The Federal Government designated the Deutschlandhaus at Anhalter Bahnhof in Berlin as the future location of the Documentation Centre of the Foundation for Displacement, Expulsion, Reconciliation.

Timeline 2013 Bundeskanzlerin Angela Merkel zum Baubeginn am 11. Juni 2013 – © Bundesregierung/Kugler

2013

On 28 January 2013, the consortium ANNABAU Architektur und Landschaft with the artist Via Lewandowsky was commissioned with the design of the outdoor facilities and the "art on the building" after a competition.


On 11 June 2013, the construction of the Documentation Centre of the Foundation for Displacement, Expulsion, Reconciliation took place in the Deutschlandhaus with Federal Chancellor Dr Angela Merkel and the Commissioner for Culture and Media, Minister of State Bernd Neumann.

2014

On 15 December 2014, the Foundation Council relieved Prof. Dr Manfred Kittel of his duties.

2015

On 30 November 2015, the Foundation Board appointed Uwe Neumärker as interim director of the Foundation.

Timeline 2016 Die Beauftragte für Kultur und Medien, Staatsministerin Prof. Monika Grütters, und die Direktorin der Stiftung Flucht, Vertreibung, Versöhnung, Dr. Gundula Bavendamm, auf dem Richtfest des Dokumentationszentrums, 2016. – © Stiftung Flucht, Vertreibung, Versöhnung

2016

On 22 February 2016, Dr. Gundula Bavendamm was elected as the new director by the Foundation Council and took office on 1 April 2016. 


On 17 October 2016, the Foundation Council, chaired by the Commissioner for Culture and the Media, Minister of State Prof. Monika Grütters, appointed a new Scientific Advisory Board with 12 members. 


On 17 October 2016, the topping-out ceremony for the Foundation's future Documentation Centre was celebrated. In the presence of the State Minister for Culture and the Media, Minister of State Prof. Monika Grütters, the Director of the Foundation's Documentation Centre. Monika Grütters, the Head of the Department of Construction, Construction Industry and Federal Buildings in the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI), Monika Thomas, the President of the Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning (BBR), Petra Wesseler, the Spokesman of the Board of Directors of the Federal Institute for Real Estate Management (BImA), Jürgen Gehb, and the architect Stefan Marte, the topping-out wreath was ceremoniously raised over the new building in the presence of numerous builders, planners, participants and guests.

2017

On 20 June 2017, the Foundation publishes the concept for the permanent exhibition. The Foundation Council had previously approved the paper unanimously.

2018

On 28 June 2018, the Foundation Council unanimously approved the concept for the library and the testimony archive of the Documentation Centre.

2019

On 18 July 2019, the Foundation Board unanimously approved the concept for education and outreach.

2020

On 09 March 2020, the Foundation Board unanimously approved a concept for special exhibitions and a utilisation concept for the Room of Stillness.


On 9 June 2020, the Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning (BBR) officially handed over the keys to the Foundation.

2021

The Documentation Centre for Displacement, Expulsion, Reconciliation was completed, the permanent exhibition was set up, and the archive and library moved into the building. On 21 June 2021, the Documentation Centre was opened with a ceremony attended by the Federal Chancellor Dr Angela Merkel and the Commissioner for Culture and the Media, Minister of State Prof Monika Grütters, and was handed over to the public on 23 June 2021.

We have gathered the most frequently asked questions about the Foundation and the Documentation Centre for you.