Documentation Centre for Displacement, Expulsion, Reconciliation

The Documentation Centre for Displacement, Expulsion, Reconciliation explores the many layers of forced migration in the 20th century. Its exhibitions, library, and testimony archive look closely at how millions were uprooted, with a particular focus on the experiences of German refugees during and after World War II. Personal stories, historical documents, and multimedia displays reveal the human impact of policies and conflicts that pushed people from their homes.

Context and historical framing

While the fate of German expellees forms a central theme, the museum presents this history within a broader narrative. It explains how displacement in Europe escalated as a result of Germany’s attack on neighboring countries and earlier expulsions ordered by the German state. The exhibitions trace cause and consequence: wartime aggression and occupation, ethnic persecution, and the mass movements that followed as borders shifted and societies fractured.

Debates and public controversy

Before opening, the project sparked heated debate. It was initially championed by Erika Steinbach, a prominent figure associated with the political right in Germany’s expellee movement. Her earlier vision of a “centre against expulsions” drew strong criticism, especially in Poland, where concerns centered on historical framing and moral responsibility. In the end, the completed museum did not include Steinbach’s input.

A balancing act in interpretation

The finished institution aims to hold multiple truths at once. It documents the suffering of those who were expelled—German and non-German alike—through testimonies and research, while also keeping the wider context in view. The narrative acknowledges that the expulsions of German populations were a direct outcome of Germany’s military aggression and the crimes of the regime, situating individual tragedies within the larger arc of cause and effect.