Travel to freedom: US army and the liberation of Central Germany 1945

Travel to freedom: US army and the liberation of Central Germany 1945

Capa-Haus, Jahnallee 61, 04103 Leipzig, Deutschland - Leipzig's liberation by the US Army in 1945 is a historical event that has moved into the background in recent decades. On April 20, 1945, the city fell into the hands of the American soldiers, a few days after the liberation of Halle and Magdeburg. In order to pay more attention to this important chapter of history, a comprehensive exhibition under the title "From D-Day to Elbe Day" is currently presented in the Capa House. This runs until July 31, 2025 and is available free of charge for visitors.

The exhibition, which was created by the non-profit organization Capa Culture gGmbH, pursues the path of the US Army from the D-Day, June 6, 1944 until the capitulation of the National Socialists on May 8, 1945. bring. Simon Raulf, project manager, describes this commitment as a way to illuminate an "undiscovered chapter" that is often forgotten due to the unilateral memory policy of the GDR.

focus on the Central German space

The importance of the US army for the liberation of Central Germany is emphasized in the exhibition. Historical photographs and text articles accompany the digital map and give the information a tangible context. Among them is also a photo of the American soldier Raymond J. Bowman, who took Robert Capa on April 18, 1945. This picture shows the tragic last war victim, which died only two days before Leipzig was liberated.

The Capa House exhibition focuses on the essential milestones, such as the liberation of Leipzig on April 20 and the "Elbe Day" on April 25, as American and Soviet troops. These historical moments are not only the source of defense stories, but also for social memorials that deal with the victims of National Socialism.

interactive elements and the role of the media

In order to make the exhibition accessible to a younger audience, all information is fully available for the first time in English. A autoplay function enables fewer technology-savvy visitors to easily explore the content. In addition, the route of the US soldiers from Normandy to Leipzig to Torgau are documented as part of a social media campaign "Road to Freedom-In the Traces of Liberation". These initiatives have already achieved a high response, with hundreds of thousands of clicks.

By teaching materials provided on the website, a connection to school education is also created. The April edition of the Magazin Kreuzer deals with the exhibition and the role of the Capa House, which arouses additional interest in this important historical topic.

The exhibition "From D-Day to Elbe Day" takes place in the Capa House in Jahnallee 61 in Leipzig and is open every day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., except on public holidays. The aim is to restore awareness of the role of the US army in the liberation in East Germany, as well as and Kreuzer Leipzig Report.