When will the exhibition open?

The opening will take place on Sunday, November 8, 2026, at 11:30 AM in the Church of the Name of Jesus.

How long is the exhibition on display in Bonn?

The exhibition will be on display from November 8 to December 13, 2026. Another presentation phase is planned from January 8 to January 31, 2027.

What is the entrance fee?

Entry to the exhibition is free.

When can the exhibition be visited?

The exhibition is open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM. From Thursday to Sunday, the hours are from 11:30 AM to 5:30 PM.

Is there a accompanying program for the opening?

Yes. The opening will be musically accompanied by Berthold Wicke; the lecture for the exhibition will be given by Prof. Dr. Katja Makhotina.

Where does the exhibition take place?

The exhibition takes place in the Church of the Name of Jesus, Bonngasse 8, 53111 Bonn.

Holocaust and Forced Labor

Name: Holocaust and Forced Labor in the Galicia District
Start: 2026-11-08T11:30:00+01:00
End: 2026-12-13T17:30:00+01:00
Location: Namen-Jesu-Kirche

A Story of Destruction and Survival: Holocaust and Forced Labor in Galicia

The exhibition at the Church of the Name of Jesus focuses on the history of the Jewish population in the Galician oil region during the German occupation. It narrates stories of disenfranchisement, ghettos, deportations, and forced labor as well as survival strategies and courageous rescue attempts. The opening will take place on Sunday, November 8, 2026, at 11:30 AM.

Historical Space between Diversity and Persecution

Before World War II, Galicia was a multi-ethnic region where more than 500,000 Jews lived. After the German invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, the eastern part was occupied and organized as the Galicia District. The exhibition reveals how Nazi occupation policies destroyed a developed society.

Destruction, Forced Labor, and Survival

Photographs, documents, and biographical testimonies lead through the stages of persecution: pogroms, the establishment of ghettos, deportations to the extermination camp Bełżec, and the exploitation of Jewish labor in camps and enterprises. Forced labor appears as part of the extermination policy, but also as a temporary opportunity for some individuals to escape immediate deportation.

Biographical Perspectives on the Holocaust

Among other things, the fate of Holocaust survivor Józef Lipman and his family is the focus. The exhibition also highlights Berthold and Else Beitz, as well as Donata and Eberhard Helmrich, who helped persecuted people. Berthold Beitz was later honored by Yad Vashem as Righteous Among the Nations.

Opening with Lecture and Music

The opening event combines historical context, musical presentation, and personal reflection. Berthold Wicke will provide the musical framework; the lecture for the exhibition will be given by Prof. Dr. Katja Makhotina. This creates a focused access to an exhibition that connects historical research, memory culture, and cultural education.

A Place for Remembrance and Aesthetic Experience

The Church of the Name of Jesus gives a special spatial effect to the presentation. Among sacred architecture, silent visual testimonies, and documentary materials, an exhibition atmosphere is created that invites contemplation of the works and personal engagement. The artistic experience here lies not in decorative beauty, but in the poignant encounter with sources, faces, and life stories.

The exhibition awaits its visitors as a demanding historical documentation and as a place of remembrance. Those who wish to understand the history of the Holocaust, forced labor, and survival in Galicia will find an important space for insight, empathy, and aesthetic experience in Bonn. A visit to the exhibition enriches cultural education and sends a conscious signal against forgetting.