When does the event take place?

The event takes place on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at 4 PM.

Where can the exhibitions be seen?

The exhibitions are located in the ground floor reading room of the Erlangen City Archive, Luitpoldstraße 45, 91052 Erlangen. The entrance is at Bernhard-Plettner-Ring.

What is the entry fee?

Entry to the two exhibitions is free.

How long will the exhibitions be on view?

The two exhibitions will be on view until January 28, 2027.

What topics does the student exhibition cover?

The student exhibition addresses topics including the resumption of school operations, the housing situation, the first Bergkirchweih after the war, and collaboration with the American military government.

Are there group visits available?

Groups can visit the exhibitions by appointment.

Erlangen 1945/46: Historical Sources Tell of New Beginnings and Democratic Awakening

Name: "Yesterday Must Give Way to Today." Erlangen 1945/46 and "Erlangen between End and Beginning"
Start: 2026-10-27T16:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-10-27T18:00:00+01:00
Location: Stadtarchiv Erlangen - EG Lesesaal

Erlangen between the End of War, New Beginnings and Democratic Awakening

Two exhibitions at the Erlangen City Archive focus on the crucial months between the end of World War II and the first free local election on May 26, 1946. The presentations combine local culture of remembrance, historical sources, and cultural education into an impactful examination of Erlangen's post-war period.

A City in Transition

On April 16, 1945, the war ended in Erlangen with the unopposed surrender of the city. Buildings and infrastructure remained largely intact, but societal and political life faced profound change. The exhibitions show how Nazi structures were dismantled, administration and supply were reorganized, and relationships with the American military government were established.

Everyday Life Between School, Housing Shortage, and Bergkirchweih

The poster exhibition "Yesterday Must Give Way to Today," created by students from the Albert Schweitzer Gymnasium in collaboration with the city archive, brings to life the concrete realities of 1945 and 1946. It highlights the resumption of school operations, the difficult housing situation, the first Bergkirchweih after the war, and collaboration with the American military government.

Textual images, photographs, posters, and historical documents create a concentrated exhibition atmosphere. The aesthetic experience here arises not from classical painting or sculpture, but from the immediate presence of archival evidence. Each source conveys a snapshot from a time when everyday life, politics, and personal futures were being reshaped.

The First Free Local Election After 13 Years of Dictatorship

The exhibition "Erlangen between End and Beginning. The Local Election in Erlangen on May 26, 1946" is dedicated to the first democratic local election after 13 years of Nazi rule. Relocations, resettlements, denazification measures, and the provision for a growing population shaped the circumstances.

This election emerges as a magnifying glass on democratic conditions. It makes visible that political participation does not begin in the polling station but relies on functioning institutions, reliable administration, and societal engagement. The curation connects political history with the realities of a city in transition.

Cultural Education with Contemporary Relevance

The city archive plans to exhibit an annual cabinet exhibition until 2029 on central stations of Erlangen's post-war history up to the founding of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1949. The kickoff provides historical orientation and invites reflection on the culture of remembrance, democratic responsibility, and the value of local history.

Conclusion: Experience History in Its Original Form

Visitors can expect a compact, knowledgeable, and atmospherically impactful exhibition about the end of the war, societal renewal, and democratic self-determination. The combination of archival display, student project, and local election history creates a sustainable artistic experience and an intense aesthetic encounter. Those wishing to understand Erlangen's history and reconsider the significance of democratic participation should visit this exhibition live at the city archive.