Discover Erlangen's dark side: experience the city's history up close!

Discover Erlangen's dark side: experience the city's history up close!

A lot is happening again in beautiful Erlangen. On Sunday, June 15th, the city museum invites you to an exciting tour entitled “Light and Shadow – turning points in Erlanger’s city history”. It starts at 2 p.m. and the museum director Brigitte Korn leads the participants through the exciting and often turbulent stages of the city's history. This tour focuses on turning points and turning points that not only influenced the city, but also the lives of its residents. Fateful crises, historical decisions and happy turning points are discussed, while special objects from the extensive museum collection are presented. Participants can expect a unique insight into the past, from the reception of the Huguenots and the founding of the university to the surrender without a fight in the Second World War and the settlement of the Siemens company. Registration management is handled by the city museum on 09131 86-2300 or by email at stadtmuseum@stadt.erlangen.de. More information can also be found on the city museum website ( stadtmuseum-erlangen.de ).

Speaking of culture: On Wednesday, June 18th, a very special event will be held in the inner courtyard of the city library at 7:00 p.m. The author Ulrich Woelk will read from his novels “Freigang” and “Schrödinger’s Bedroom”. He receives support from the literary scholar Aura Heydenreich and the physicist Klaus Mecke, who take over the moderation. This reading takes place as part of the series “Quants: The Knowledge of Literature” and celebrates the International Year of Quantum Science 2025. Admission to this event is free – a great offer for anyone interested in literature. Further details are available on the ELINAS website ( elinas.fau.de ).

National honors and infrastructure measures

Another important date is coming up on Sunday, June 15th. On this day, National Veterans Day is celebrated throughout Germany to commemorate the soldiers of the Bundeswehr. There will also be flags on all state buildings in Erlangen. The Bavarian Prime Minister ordered this flag to be displayed after a Bundestag resolution was passed in April 2024 to establish this day as a national holiday.

At the moment, however, the citizens of Mozartstrasse have to show some patience. From Monday, June 16th, until probably Friday, July 25th, the Gerstenbergstrasse/Mozartstrasse junction will be closed for road construction work. The Department of Planning and Building of the city of Erlangen announced this measure in order to lay power cables. One can only hope that the work will be completed quickly so that traffic can flow again soon.

A look back – Erlangen in history

For history lovers, the Erlangen City Archives also offers a number of publications on the city's history. New publications such as "Erlangen in the Weimar Republic and National Socialism. The Friedrich Alexander University 1918-1945" offer in-depth insights into the eventful past of the city and its university. These books are not only informative but also a valuable addition to any collection. The first part of the work costs €39.90, while the publication about the book burning of 1933 is available for €19.90. To name just a few of the titles: The memorial book about the victims of the 1938 progrom can be purchased for €20.00. The city archives have something on offer for everyone ( achieve.de ).

This rich treasure trove of information is not only important for historians, but also opens up a wide avenue for examining the history of Erlangen, especially during the Weimar Republic and National Socialism, which is essential for understanding today. Anyone looking for insight and background information has come to the right place.

Overall, it can be said that Erlangen is a lively place where culture, commemoration and infrastructure flow together harmoniously. The coming days offer numerous opportunities to learn about the city's history and experience cultural highlights.