New exhibition in Pönitz

A new exhibition is now on view at the Museum of Regional History in Pönitz: “Cap Arcona – May 3, 1945: The Tragedy of the Concentration Camp Ships in Lübeck Bay.” Even after more than 80 years,
the tragic events of the final days of the war in May 1945 remain vivid in the memories of many residents of East Holstein living around Lübeck Bay. Some older people can still recall the shelling of the prisoner ships off Neustadt and Haffkrug. They saw the ships burning, then the wrecks lying in the bay. They watched the British military vehicles drive through Scharbeutz toward Neustadt on May 3. And they lived with the aftermath of this tragedy afterward, as bodies were repeatedly washed ashore.
However, many people have never heard of the tragedy of the “Cap Arcona.” The team at the Regional Museum has therefore organized this exhibition to commemorate the events and provide information about them.
The focus is on accounts from eyewitnesses who recount what they experienced and saw: residents of Scharbeutz and Neustadt, prisoners on the bombed ships who survived the inferno, and British soldiers who were present on May 3.
The Regional Museum team has compiled a film featuring historical footage and set up an audio station with original audio recordings from the eyewitnesses. Display cases contain original artifacts from the sunken ships. This exhibition brings the events of that time into stark relief. 

The Museum of Regional History at Lindenstraße 23 in Pönitz is open Tuesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 2 to 5 p.m.; admission is free.
Visits and guided tours for groups and school classes outside of opening hours can be arranged by email at museum@museum-scharbeutz.de.
More information: Museum of Regional History

 (Source: Museum of Regional History in Pönitz)