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In the spring of 1945, the encirclement of Germany tightened steadily. In our region, Allied forces soon approached Oldenburg. Bremen was captured, and troops advanced toward Bremerhaven (then Wesermünde).
For many people in the western parts of the country, the war was effectively over. They were “liberated” by the Allies, as it was described at the time. Conditions in the East were very different. Many civilians were fleeing from the fighting or the atrocities committed by the Soviet Army, and millions were expelled from their homes.
Nevertheless, those in power continued to attempt to save themselves and sent hundreds of thousands of soldiers to certain death. When reason finally prevailed, Germany lay devastated, and chaos dominated large parts of the country. Hunger and hardship were widespread.
Millions of refugees, displaced families and prisoners of war had to be supplied with basic necessities. Neither the German population nor the Allied forces were prepared for this immense task. A struggle for survival began. Hundreds of thousands of families had been torn apart and first needed to reunite. Millions of soldiers spent years in captivity and were absent from Germany during the crucial period of reconstruction.
This special exhibition aims to bring this period closer to visitors and to convey what people experienced at the end of the war, what they endured, and how they managed to survive and rebuild their lives.