Torgau Memorial Unveils Exhibition on DDR's Repressive Youth Policies

The updated exhibit highlights the harsh realities of DDR-era youth reeducation, including previously unaddressed topics like sexualized violence.

The Torgau Memorial's new permanent exhibition sheds light on the experiences of over 4,000 youths subjected to reeducation in the DDR's only closed youth facility from 1964 to 1989.
The exhibition, titled 'I Was Born a Human and Want to Leave as One,' includes newly added content on sexualized violence and other abuses within DDR youth homes.
Interactive elements such as listening stations and reading aids allow visitors to engage deeply with the stories of the affected youths.
Prominent attendees at the exhibition's opening included Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer, Culture Minister Claudia Roth, and other officials, emphasizing its national significance.
Since its establishment in 2009, the Torgau Memorial has welcomed over 265,000 visitors, serving as a unique site for confronting the DDR's repressive educational and social systems.