In remembrance of the victim in Chemnitz, where the perpetrator once dwelled
The Chemnitz NSU Documentation Center, located in Germany, is a vital institution dedicated to addressing the complexities of the National Socialist Underground (NSU) and its impact in Saxony. The center serves as a memorial for the victims of the NSU murder series, which occurred between 2000 and 2007, and offers a platform for education about right-wing extremism.
The center is open to the public, with funding secured until the end of 2026 from various sources, including tax funds, federal funds, and city funds from Chemnitz. The exhibitions are accessible during specified hours, and security measures such as bag restrictions are in place to ensure visitor safety.
One of the center's key exhibits is an installation reminiscent of street signs, presenting individual crime scenes of the NSU. Visitors can also engage with an extensive program, including readings, guided tours, and a digital memorial site. The center is not just a museum but also a venue for cultural and public discussions, such as events exploring the role of art in remembering and confronting this history.
The center is a testament to years of civic engagement and civil society efforts aimed at commemorating the victims of the NSU and educating the public about right-wing extremism. It reflects on migration and ongoing racist challenges in Germany, urging society to confront these issues head-on.
One of the most poignant exhibits is a collection of personal belongings of the NSU victims, some of which remain empty due to ongoing discussions with families. The wristwatch in the center stopped at a few minutes before 10 o'clock, the time when Mehmed Kubaşık, one of the NSU's victims, died. Kubaşık's daughter, Gamze, has expressed that it is "long overdue" for the deeds of the NSU to be documented and its victims remembered in a German city.
The center also hosts a scientific symposium on "NSU terrorism and authoritarian tendencies of the present" in September, aiming to delve deeper into the NSU's legacy and its relevance today.
The center has been visited by approximately 100 visitors per day, with around 5000 visitors in about two months. The video central to the exhibition showcases a demonstration with 2,500 participants in Kassel in 2006, where relatives of NSU victims called on the German public to consider right-wing extremists as perpetrators.
The Chemnitz NSU Documentation Center stands alone as the only one of its kind in the country, serving as a beacon for remembrance, education, and ongoing societal dialogue regarding the NSU crimes and broader right-wing extremism in Germany. The center supports the demand of the bereaved for "No final closure!" and remains committed to ensuring that the victims of the NSU are never forgotten.
- The Chemnitz NSU Documentation Center, aside from being a museum, also serves as a venue for cultural and public discussions on various topics such as the role of art in remembering and confronting the history of right-wing extremism, migration, and ongoing racist challenges in Germany.
- In addition to its exhibits, such as a collection of personal belongings of NSU victims and street sign installations reminiscent of crime scenes, the Chemnitz NSU Documentation Center also hosts scientific symposiums, like the one in September on "NSU terrorism and authoritarian tendencies of the present", aiming to delve deeper into the NSU's legacy and its relevance today.
