80th anniversary of the liberation

On 29 April 1945, Dachau was liberated by US troops.

The celebration of this special 80th anniversary has an extensive programme.

Programme

Tuesday, April 29th

5-6 pm: Dedication of the memorial plaque in honor of the 45th Division of the 7th U.S. Army
The event will be held in English and will not be translated.
Location: Former Jourhaus on Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site
Organizer: Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site

6-7.30 pm: „But it was true – we were free.“ Scenic reading on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Dachau concentration camp
The event will be held in English and will not be translated.
Location: Cinema of Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site
Organizer: Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site

Friday, May 2nd

6 pm: Commemoration at Leitenberg and Waldfriedhof Dachau
Location: Concentration Camp Cemetery Dachau-Leitenberg & Waldfriedhof Dachau
Organizer: Comité International de Dachau

Saturday, May 3rd

10.30 am – 4.30 pm: Guided tours in several languages
Meeting point: Visitors’ Center of Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site
Organizer: Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site

Overview of all guided tours
Thematic tour “The liberation of Dachau concentration camp”, 2 pm

12 am – 4 pm: “Tent of Encounter”
Location: Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site
Organizer: Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site

12 am – 1.30 pm: Commemoration “In the footsteps of our fathers. Remembrance along the former camp road”
The event will be held in German and, if required, in parts in English.
Meeting point: Access wall to the International Memorial opposite the museum entrance
Organizer: Relatives of former Dachau prisoners in cooperation with Lagergemeinschaft Dachau e.V.

3.15 pm: Commemoration “Never Again”
Location: International Monument
Organizer: Comité International de Dachau

4.30-5.30 pm: Hour of Commemoration at the former SS Shooting Range in Hebertshausen
Location: Former SS Shooting Range in Hebertshausen
Organizer: “Anniversary of the Liberation” Initiative in cooperation with the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site

6 pm: Commemoration for the victims of the death march
Location: Death March Monument, corner of Theodor-Heuss-Straße/ Sudetenlandstraße Dachau
Organizer: Trägerkreis Todesmarschmahnmal (Death March Monument Support Group)

Sunday, May 4rd

Central commemorative ceremony for the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Dachau concentration camp
Location: Former roll call square of the Dachau Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site
Organizer: Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site & the International Dachau Committee

9:15 am: Ecumenical Service (Protestant, Catholic and Greek Orthodox) at the Carmelite Convent of the Precious Blood (until 10.15 am)

9:30 am: Russian-Orthodox Service at the Chapel “Resurrection of Our Lord”

9:45 am: Jewish Remembrance Ceremony of the Jewish Community of Munich and Upper Bavaria at the Jewish Memorial (until 10.30 am)

10:45 am: Remembrance ceremony at the former Crematorium (official invitation only)

The ceremony can be followed on a large screen outside the marquee tent on the former roll call square.

11:45 am: Central commemorative ceremony at the former roll call area (official invitation only)

The central commemorative ceremony will be broadcast live on Bavarian television and a large screen outside the marquee tent on the former roll call square.

Following: Day of Encounters (official invitation only)

We ask for your understanding that Dachau Memorial Site will be closed to the general public on this day: Due to the anniversary events, all the buildings on-site as well as large outdoor sections of the memorial site will not be accessible to the public. If you wish to follow the ceremony on-site on the screen, please allow sufficient time for the security checks at the entrances.

For more information, please visit the website of the KZ-Gedenkstätte Dachau