In the autumn of 2016, unknown collectors of military memorabilia searched the grounds of the former Zeithain prisoner of war camp for military objects. An unknown number of the artefacts were excavated and stolen, while hundreds of objects were left unprotected on the ground and later recovered. This was the largest find of contemporary archaeological artefacts in Saxony to date, and posed a huge challenge in terms of research, restoration and storage of the objects. The finds included toiletries, medicines, household items and clothing, presumably from the POW camp, and provide an insight into the living conditions of the prisoners. It cannot be ruled out that some of the objects may also have come from the post-war use of the site as a transit camp for returning Soviets and eventually as a military training ground by the Red Army.

The finds have now been on public display for more than two years. The exhibition “Our Neighbours’ Things ... Recovered. Finds from the Zeithain POW Camp” aims to explore the relationship between the POW camp and its immediate surroundings, and is designed as an exhibition depot with a workshop character. It is constantly evolving and changing through the participation of visitors who contribute descriptions, information, thoughts, ideas and questions about the artefacts. Anyone can take part: visitors can choose individual objects from the collection, describe them, examine them and write their findings on the trilingual questionnaires provided. A work area is provided for this purpose. The objects can be presented to other visitors (e.g. as part of a school class visit) and then displayed on a shelf with the information and comments, to be added to or replaced by other visitors. At the end of the exhibition, the objects, together with the completed questionnaires, are archived and available for further research.

Working with the artefacts also includes in-depth preparation on the history of the Second World War in general and the historical and spatial context of the former Zeithain prisoner of war and military hospital camp in particular. It is only with this basic knowledge that visitors, including many young people from local schools, are able to describe and categorise the objects found. A large map installed in the exhibition locates the camp in the region and makes the spatial dimension visible.

So far, many people have participated in researching the artefacts and in many cases have contributed new information. As this process is ongoing and interest in exploring the artefacts has not waned, the exhibition will remain open until July 2023. Over the past two years, it has become clear that working with the artefacts makes the subject of wartime captivity more accessible, particularly to younger students, and is in high demand. Students can choose and touch the objects themselves. In this way, they learn through their own exploration and without the fear of making mistakes, two aspects that are often not central in the school context and which make the exhibition a valuable tool for educational work at the memorial. Even after the end of the exhibition, working with artefacts will remain part of the educational programme for students at the Zeithain Memorial.

Contact
Stiftung Sächsische Gedenkstätten
Gedenkstätte Ehrenhain-Zeithain
Zum Ehrenhain
01619 Zeithain
Milan Spindler
Consultant for Public Relations and Education
Email: milan.spindler@stsg.de
Phone: 03525 510472