Places of (In)Visibility

How can places be invisible if they still exist? It’s not the places themselves that are invisible, but rather the many stories associated with them. The "Places of (In)Visibility" project focuses on the stories of people who came to Hamburg from East Germany (GDR) at different times and in various ways. These stories span from 1953 to 1989. Narratives of escape, emigration, and settling into a new city transform everyday, inconspicuous, or even touristy places into special sites of personal memory.

In five tours and at 16 different stations, you will learn what these places meant to people—and what they still mean today. The memories of contemporary witnesses form the heart of the audio walk. Their stories are contextualized and commented on. Additionally, there are numerous documents to discover at each station. Each tour takes you to three to four stations and lasts about 45 minutes. You can visit these places in person or listen from home—whether you live in Hamburg, are visiting the city, or are simply interested in these locations.

The "Places of (In)Visibility" project is a collaboration between the Public History department of the University of Hamburg and the Hamburg State Center for Political Education. It is made possible and funded by the Federal Minister for Media and Culture under the "Youth Remembers" federal program and supported by the Federal Foundation for the Reappraisal of the SED Dictatorship.

The final tour of the audio walk begins at the main train station, then moves to the Schauspielhaus theater and the YMCA, ending at the Alster. Arriving at a train station can be associated with a wide range of stories, both then and now. Farewells and greetings are closely intertwined here. Near the main train station is the Schauspielhaus, which was an important place for some of the contemporary witnesses from the 1950s and 60s, holding many memories, especially of their early days in Hamburg. At the Alster, the YMCA building plays a role. The support from the association ranged from providing initial accommodation to organizing regular meetings and joint trips.