Photographs of a displacement, 1945
In early 1945, in the freezing winter, millions of Germans were being displaced. On 21 January, a refugee trek left Lübchen in Lower Silesia to escape the approaching Red Army: about 350 people, mainly women, children and old people.
On this trek were two professional photographers, Hanns Tschira and Martha Maria Schmackeit, who documented this month-long journey in about 140 pictures. The Documentation Centre exhibits this unique set of photographs for the first time in its entirety.
How was it even possible to produce these photographs? What do these pictures tell us about displacement in 1945 and what do they omit? The curatorial team's research has in fact established that these photos were not taken for purely personal use.
The exhibition has three parts. At its core is the story of the trek from Lübchen and the refugees' arduous journey west. At the same time, the exhibition demonstrates how such images have continued to shape our notions of displacement and expulsion.
Finally the exhibition explores what happened after this displacement - to the Germans and to the village they left behind. Thomas Meyer has recently retraced the trek's route and taken new photographs, including those of the village which for three generations has been called Lubów.
Duration: 20 June 2025 to 18 January 2026
PROGRAMME OF THE VERNISSAGE
Welcome
Dr. Gundula Bavendamm
Director, Documentation Centre Displacement, Expulsion, Reconciliation
Greeting
Christoph de Vries, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of the Interior
Introduction to the exhibition
Barbara Kurowska and Dr. Nils Köhler
Curators, Documentation Centre for Displacement, Expulsion, Reconciliation
Panel
Barbara Kurowska and Dr. Nils Köhler, curators
Lucia Brauburger, historian and author of the book Abschied von Lübchen (Farewell to Lübchen)
Thomas Meyer, freelance photographer and member of the OSTKREUZ agency
Moderator:
Prof. Kerstin von Lingen
University of Vienna - Institute for Contemporary History and member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Foundation for Displacement, Expulsion, Reconciliation
Afterwards, we invite you to a small reception.
Admission: 5.30 p.m.
Language: German
FREE ADMISSION
REGISTRATION REQUIRED