Chemnitz
Made in Germany
The exhibition "Made in Germany" focuses on products made by German industry between 1939 and 1945 – manufactured in companies that were involved in the Nazi forced labor system.
Tomasz Lewandowski's photographs capture these objects in a precise, factual visual language: technical devices, everyday items, branded goods – staged as aesthetic artifacts of a historical system. They are complemented by original objects that provide a direct, tangible connection to history. Accompanying background texts shed light on the role of the companies where the featured products originated – businesses that profited from forced labor and whose names often remain well-known today.
The exhibition asks: How did the "Made in Germany" label emerge? What economic and human conditions underpinned its success? The leading position of German industry during the post-war "economic miracle" was rooted not least in the innovations and structures of the war years. The Nazi forced labor system was an integral component of the "Third Reich's" economy. By photographically "examining" these objects, the exhibition contributes to the culture of remembrance – while simultaneously bridging the past and present: even today, low production costs in a globalized world are often linked to the exploitation of humans and nature.
"Made in Germany" invites visitors to reflect on responsibility, remembrance, and industrial production – concerning both yesterday and today.
Dates
Venue
Sächsisches Industriemuseum Chemnitz
Zwickauer Straße
09112 Chemnitz
Organiser: Sächsisches Industriemuseum Chemnitz
