"Der Warschauer Aufstand 1944" – Exhibition in Leipzig

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In the Dome Hall of the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig, our exhibition “Der Warschauer Aufstand 1944” is currently on display. It is dedicated to the dramatic fate of Warsaw during World War II and the Warsaw Rising. The exhibition was prepared by the Warsaw Rising Museum, the City of Warsaw and the Polish Institute in Berlin – Leipzig Branch. The exhibition is open for visitors until 8 May 2026.

About the Exhibition “Der Warschauer Aufstand 1944”

The exhibition consists of more than 70 display panels, three display cases with original artefacts and a film screening. In a multi-layered way, it tells the story of Warsaw – a city that became a victim of the brutal Nazi German extermination machine. The narrative begins with a picture of pre-war Warsaw – a dynamic, developing metropolis whose growth was brutally interrupted by the outbreak of World War II. Subsequent sections of the exhibition depict the realities of the German occupation:

the Third Reich’s policies toward the Poles and Jews,
everyday terror and the decisions of the occupation authorities,
the creation of the Warsaw Ghetto and the living conditions of its inhabitants,
as well as cultural life, which continued to exist despite the extreme conditions.

Central to the exhibition is the Warsaw Rising — 63 days of heroic struggle for freedom and the immense price paid by the city’s residents and the entire nation.

The final part of the exhibition presents the phenomenon of Warsaw’s post-war reconstruction – a city that rose from the ruins and today is a modern, dynamic European metropolis.

Accompanying Event

The exhibition is complemented by an engaging programme of events, allowing visitors to explore the Warsaw Rising from various angles through film screenings, talks, and guided tours with experts.

16.04.2026 / 7 pm
Polish Institute – Leipzig Branch / free admission
“Kanał”
Feature film, dir. Andrzej Wajda, Poland 1957, 96 min, German subtitles
Introduction: Bernd Karwen and Rainer Mende (Polish Institute)

22.04.2026 / 7 pm
Polish Institute – Leipzig Branch / free admission
“Warsaw Uprising”
Docudrama, directed by Jan Komasa, Poland 2014, 87 min, German subtitles
Introduction: Dr Karol Mazur (Warsaw Rising Museum)

23.04.2026 / 12 pm
Federal Administrative Court / free admission
Special guided tour of the exhibition with Dr Karol Mazur (Warsaw Rising Museum)

08.05.2026 / 7 pm
Polish Institute – Leipzig Branch / free admission
“Reconstruction Continues. The Saxon Palace and the Western Frontage of Piłsudski Square – History and Future”
Lecture: Maria Wardzyńska (Saxon Palace Sp. z o.o.) and Tomasz Markiewicz (Polish-German Cooperation Foundation)
With commentary by Arnold Bartetzky (GWZO)

Historical Context and Contemporary Relevance

The exhibition is aimed at audiences of all ages and from different countries. Its goal is to broaden knowledge about the realities of occupied Poland, which remain insufficiently present in international historical awareness.

The Warsaw Rising was the last attempt to defend Poland’s independence during World War II. Although it ended in military defeat, the idea of fighting for freedom survived – despite years of communist propaganda.

It was this tradition that later inspired the Polish democratic opposition and the “Solidarity” movement, ultimately leading to restored sovereignty in 1989.

Today’s event allows us to believe that the memory of the insurgents will not die with the departure of the last of them, and the heart of the city condemned by many to annihilation will not stop beating. Poles wanted to fight for their own freedom. These words are an important reminder that freedom is not given once and for all and requires constant struggle and determination. Inspiration from the past can be a signpost for those who today fight for their rights and sovereignty. Jan Ołdakowski, Director of the Warsaw Rising Museum

An important part of the exhibition is the film ‘City of Ruins’. It is a digital reconstruction of a Liberator aircraft flight over destroyed and deserted Warsaw in the spring of 1945. Visitors can compare these images with contemporary photographs of modern and dynamic Warsaw. This has special significance today, when for more than four years a full-scale war has been raging in Europe as a result of the criminal invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation. The sight of cities destroyed by Russians, especially Mariupol, recalls the images of Warsaw from early 1945. Our exhibition carries a message of hope: just as Warsaw rose like a phoenix from the ashes, cities destroyed by war around the world can also rise again. Paweł Ukielski, Deputy Director of the Warsaw Rising Museum

Germany and Saxony share close ties and friendly neighbourly relations with Poland. After the immense suffering inflicted on Poland by Germans during the Second World War, today’s close cooperation is the result of years of dedicated work by committed people on both sides — something for which we can all be grateful. To shape a peaceful and friendly European future, we must never stop commemorating the past. The Warsaw Rising is an essential element of Polish culture of remembrance, but unfortunately it is less known in Germany. That is why it is particularly important to me to present this exhibition in Saxony to a wide audience, dedicated to this significant yet dramatic chapter of Polish history and its heroes and heroines. Michael Kretschmer, Prime Minister of Saxony

The exhibition we are opening today serves as a powerful reminder of the unimaginable crimes committed on Polish soil — from the first acts of resistance to the dramatic events of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and the Warsaw Uprising. It is an exhibition that shocks with its brutality, yet at the same time tells a story of hope and the immense sacrifice of Polish men and women in their struggle to regain sovereignty. I admit it is difficult to fully comprehend what people endured over those long months. One wedding photograph in particular moved me deeply — in that image, despite the horror of the time, we see a touching ray of hope and humanity. The exhibition also does not shy away from uncomfortable truths. It clearly shows that the Soviet Union was another enemy, a reality of which the insurgents were fully aware. Prof. Dr Andreas Korbmacher, President of the Federal Administrative Court

Exhibition Venue

The exhibition is presented at the headquarters of the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig, which since 2002 has served as Germany’s highest administrative court. This unique location – a symbol of law and democratic order – has made its space available for the exhibition, highlighting the importance of historical memory and international dialogue.