The Exhibition "The Engineers of the 'Final Solution'. Topf & Sons - Builders of the Auschwitz Ovens"

Picture: The exhibition "The Engineers of the 'Final Solution'. Topf & Sons - Builders of the Auschwitz Ovens" Picture: © Stadtverwaltung Erfurt, Kastner Pichler Architekten

The indoor exhibition

In connection with the Jewish Museum in Berlin and the Auschwitz State Museum, the Buchenwald and Mittelbau-Dora Memorials foundation developed the travelling exhibition “Engineers of the ‘Final Solution’: Topf & Sons – Builders of the Auschwitz Ovens”, which it presented very successfully from 2005 onward in Germany and Europe.

The exhibition was being expanded and updated, and adapted for permanent display in the administration building. Its installation in the planning rooms form the core of the Place of Remembrance. The documents and plans have thus been returned to the site at which they were originally drawn up within the framework of business activities on behalf of the SS. The exhibition in the building’s interior are supplemented by an outdoor exhibition.

The architect of the installed exhibition in the administration building interior is Hans Dieter Schaal, who also designed the travelling exhibition. As was likewise the case with the travelling exhibition, the graphic design was carried out by Atelier Weidner.

The Buchenwald and Mittelbau-Dora Memorials Foundation has placed the original travelling exhibition at the disposal of the city of Erfurt at no charge.

The show was curated by Rikola-Gunnar Lüttgenau, deputy director of the Buchenwald and Mittelbau-Dora Memorials Foundation. Foundation director Prof. Volkhard Knigge supervised the travelling exhibition.

Exhibition section

Venues, planning and design

Exhibition venues

  • 2005 Jüdisches Museum Berlin
  • 2006 Stadtmuseum Erfurt
  • 2006 Ruhrlandmuseum Essen
  • 2007 LWL-Industriemuseum Ziegeleimuseum in Lage
  • 2007 Dokumentationszentrum Reichsparteitagsgelände Nürnberg
  • 2008 Joods Museum van Deportatie en Verzet, Mechelen (Belgien, seit 2012 Museum Kazerne Dossin)
  • 2008 KZ-Gedenkstätte Mauthausen (Österreich)
  • 2009 Arbejdermuseet Kopenhagen (Dänemark)
  • 2010 Teknisk Museum Oslo (Norwegen)
  • 2011 Installation of the expanded permanent exhibition at the Topf & Sons Place of Remembrance

Planning and design of the exhibition (2005)

General direction: Prof. Dr. Volkhard Knigge, Foundation Director

Curator: Rikola-Gunnar Lüttgenau

Scientific Team:

  • PD Dr. Annegret Schüle
  • Friedemann Rincke
  • Johanna Wensch
  • Wolfgang Röll

Exhibition design: Hans Dieter Schaal

Graphic design: Atelier Weidner Händle

Planning and design of the exhibition expansion (2011)

Curator: PD Dr. Annegret Schüle

Consulting: Rikola-Gunnar Lüttgenau

Assistance: Rebekka Schubert, Sophie Eckenstaler

Exhibition design: Hans Dieter Schaal

Graphic design: Atelier Weidner Händle