Logo of the Capital of Culture 2025

"Jews, Germans and oil are our best exports" (POSTPONED)

Special exhibit on the ransom of the Germans of Romania, 1968–1989

A textured map of Romania showing major cities, rivers, and topographical features. Cities like Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, and Timișoara are marked. Shaded elevation changes and borders with neighboring countries are visible.
A textured map of Romania showing major cities, rivers, and topographical features. Cities like Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, and Timișoara are marked. Shaded elevation changes and borders with neighboring countries are visible.
Illustration: Lern- und Gedenkort Kaßberg-Gefängnis

This eyewitness-based project organised by the Lern- und Gedenkort Kaßberg-Gefängnis e.V. is the first exhibition in Germany to shed light on the ransom of Romanian-German minorities from the Ceaușescu dictatorship. The exhibition raises questions about the ethical dimension of the free purchase and its significance within German and European history. The focus is on the personal stories of contemporary witnesses who gained their freedom through the free purchase. Since 2023, the Kaßberg Prison Learning and Memorial Site has offered a diverse programme of learning and teaching events, workshops, artistic activities, exhibitions and guided tours to convey the complex history and numerous biographies associated with this place in a contemporary way.

When? probably 2026

Where? Chemnitz, Kaßberg prison learning and memorial centre

Lern- und Gedenkort Kaßberg-Gefängnis e.V.

European Capital of Culture The Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media Free State of Saxony European Capital of Culture

This project is cofinanced by tax funds on the basis of the parliamentary budget of the state of Saxony and by federal funds from the Beauftragter der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien (Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media), as well as funds from the City of Chemnitz.