From Saturday, April 18 to Sunday, June 28, the Salder Castle Municipal Museum is showing the exhibition "From You to Us. Refugees and displaced persons in post-war Lower Saxony". The exhibition documents the contribution of refugees and displaced persons to the development of the state of Lower Saxony.
Since its foundation in 1946, few things have shaped Lower Saxony as much as the arrival of more than 1.8 million refugees and displaced persons as a result of the Second World War. In 1950, these people made up around a quarter of the total population. Their integration took time and energy. But it was a bumpy, sometimes even rocky road from "you" to "us" - characterized by misunderstandings, rejection, hardship, but also by an irrepressible will to rebuild, openness and joint work.
In times of scarcity, which affected West and East Germans alike, this was a great challenge. The beginning in the war-ravaged country was difficult. The new citizens competed with the locals for scarce resources such as living space and food. At the same time, they helped to rebuild the country with their labor.
Religious differences contributed to the ecumenical spirit. The arrival of the refugees and displaced persons can still be seen today in the many street names with an Eastern European connection and the newly created refugee settlements in Salzgitter.
The exhibition
The exhibition tells stories that exemplify the great efforts that characterized the path from "you" to "we". It is supplemented by local aspects, as the young city of Salzgitter stood for the challenges of this time - and for overcoming them - like hardly any other city in the then divided Germany.
It was created in 2021 to mark the 75th anniversary of the state of Lower Saxony by the Museumsverband für Niedersachsen und Bremen e.V. as part of the "Herkunft.Heimat.Heute." project. The exhibition shows the contributions made by refugees and displaced persons to the founding and development of the state. The influx of refugees and displaced persons enriched the state of Lower Saxony, particularly in the areas of economy and culture.
Exhibition venue
The special exhibition "From you to us. Refugees and displaced persons in post-war Lower Saxony" on the upper floor of the permanent exhibition area "Salzgitter - The New City" in the "Horse Stables" of the Salder Castle Municipal Museum.
Access is barrier-free. Admission is free of charge.
The exhibition ends on June 28 with the concert "Soldan and the Silesian Chamber Soloists" in the Fürstensaal of Salder Castle. Information about the concert: kultur-veranstaltungenstadt.salzgitterde.
For further information on the exhibition, please contact the City of Salzgitter's cultural department at museumstadt.salzgitterde or call 05341 / 839-4619.
