Meißen International

Deutschland

More than 100 years after the end of the First World War, its traces are fading in many places – but not in Meissen. Together, we want to keep the memory alive and maintain a special burial ground. It commemorates people from different countries – including Italy, Poland, the Soviet Union and Serbia – who were brought to Meissen as forced labourers during the Second World War and lost their lives here.

At our work camp, we tackle a range of tasks together: renewing paths, making gravestone inscriptions legible, removing weeds – there is a lot to do. But it's about more than just the work. Starting from the war graves, we will deal with the consequences of the world wars and the history of forced labour. Together, we will discuss the relevance of this past for us today – also with regard to topics such as the culture of remembrance and how to deal with injustice.

After work and the exciting discussions, there is plenty of time to explore Meissen and the surrounding area: the medieval old town with its narrow streets, the cathedral and the Albrechtsburg Castle tell stories from over 1000 years. And then there is the famous Meissen porcelain – the first European porcelain ever!

Our camp site is located in a beautiful area: vineyards, the Elbe right on our doorstep and plenty of opportunities for excursions. You can quickly reach Dresden or the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, and we will also visit Chemnitz, which will be the European Capital of Culture in 2025.

Have an unforgettable time in Saxony, meet exciting people from all over Europe and become part of a project that brings history to life!

The camp language is English. The project is funded by the BMFSFJ.