Cooperation Partners and Volunteers – their Essential Contribution to the Ceremonies

Between April 29 and May 4 2025, the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site observed the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Dachau concentration camp. Accompanied by family members, survivors and liberators from around the world took part in the various events and ceremonies.

For the organization of two large catered events, the Dachau Memorial Site was able to rely on the outstanding cooperation of a proven partner, the “Förderverein für Internationale Jugendbegegnung und Gedenkstättenarbeit in Dachau e.V.” (“International Youth Encounter and Memorial Site Work in Dachau e.V.”):

• On May 1, those survivors and liberators who, together with their family members, had made the journey to Dachau were welcomed at a dinner, with the CID, descendants of former prisoners, Memorial Site staff and volunteers also in attendance.
• On May 4, following the large central ceremony, the “Day of Encounters” was held, with lunch served for all the invited guests.

The “Förderverein” organized both events in close consultation with and supported by the Memorial Site’s organization team – the range of tasks was diverse, from selecting the company for hiring the marquees and the suitable caterers through to preparing and coordinating individual activities, as well as how to best deploy the volunteers for serving and supporting the guests. The “Förderverein” was directly responsible for engaging and coordinating many of the volunteers who contributed to the successful and smooth running of both events. The majority were members of the Bavarian youth fire brigades, the youth branches of the “THW” (technical relief service) and the “Malteser Hilfsdienst” (Malteser emergency service) , all of whom supported the organization team with great commitment and positive energy.

Numerous other volunteers responded to appeals by the Memorial Site and were involved in the preparations and tasks necessary to hold the events around the 80th anniversary of liberation. Overall, the Memorial Site staff were supported and complemented by more than 100 volunteers from regional and local companies, public authorities and associations as well as the Bavarian International School in Haimhausen, the Josef Effner secondary school in Dachau, and the aforementioned youth organizations. The volunteers made a positive and valuable contribution to a dignified commemoration; they also enabled personal encounters and exchange across generations, language barriers, nationalities, and cultural differences.

All volunteers and cooperation partners, in particular the “Förderverein für Internationale Jugendbegegnung und Gedenkstättenarbeit in Dachau e.V.” (“International Youth Encounter and Memorial Site Work in Dachau e.V.”)  as the most important partner in implementing the project “80th Anniversary of Liberation”, deserve great credit and heartfelt thanks for their commitment.

Impressions of the support provided by volunteers

Volunteers of the youth fire brigade in the catering marquee

Volunteers from different fire brigades receiving a meal in the catering marquee

Andrea Heller (Managing Director of the “Förderverein für Internationale Jugendbegegnung und Gedenkstättenarbeit in Dachau e.V.” (“International Youth Encounter and Memorial Site Work in Dachau e.V.”)) and other volunteers from the “Förderverein” in the catering marquee

Andrea Heller (center) in conversation with other volunteers of the “Förderverein” in the catering marquee

Pupils from the Bavarian International School at the staged reading on April 29

Volunteers carry national flags at the central ceremony during the traditional procession down the former camp road

All photos: © KZ-Gedenkstätte Dachau