Dokumentaionszentrum Luftkrieg e.V.

At the documentation center of the AG Luftkriegsgeschichte Rhein/Mosel e. V. in Vogelsang, tattered, bent, and rusted aircraft parts bear witness to the traces of the air war in the Eifel. The permanent exhibition “Remains, Memories, and Stories—What Remains of the Air War” features artifacts, some of which lay buried in the ground for decades.

The focus is not on the technical details of the aircraft, but on the people who experienced the air war in the region. The exhibits provide insight into topics such as air raid protection, propaganda, and forced labor. Through personal stories, it becomes clear how people experienced the war.

For example, the remains of a German engine not only tell the story of what happened to the pilot but also shed light on the forced laborers who were compelled to manufacture the engine for the Nazi regime. The exhibition impressively brings together very different perspectives, enabling visitors to take a critical look at the history of the air war in the region.

The exhibition also shows what happened to the wreckage after the crashes. Larger parts of the aircraft were sometimes salvaged by locals and reused. These so-called “conversion pieces” are now part of the culture of remembrance, to which the exhibition has dedicated a separate section. In this way, the exhibition brings regional history and the people behind it to light.