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Ernst Schäfer

The Weimar photographer and photojournalist accompanied the remembrance of Buchenwald concentration camp with his camera since 1946. He also documented the inauguration of the GDR's National Memorial on 14 September 1958. (From: Buchenwald digital photo archive)

Inauguration ceremony of the Buchenwald National Memorial. Memorial ceremony in the bell tower. View from the stairwell to the slab of the urn grave surrounded by members of the combat groups.
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Commemoration of the inauguration ceremony in the bell tower of the Buchenwald National Memorial, 1958. Photo: Ernst Schäfer.

© Buchenwald Memorial
Participants in the inauguration ceremony of the Buchenwald National Memorial in the courtyard of the crematorium. In the background, one of the watchtowers.
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Participants in the inauguration ceremony of the Buchenwald National Memorial in the courtyard of the crematorium. In the center of the photo, from left to right: Erich Mückenberger, member of the Central Committee of the SED; Walter Ulbricht, Chairman of the Council of State of the GDR; Rosa Thälmann, widow of Ernst Thälmann, who was murdered in Buchenwald, 1958. Photo: Ernst Schäfer.

©Buchenwald Memorial
Three soldiers of the NVA salute around a wreath laid in front of the memorial plaque for Ernst Thälmann at the crematorium.
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Thälmann commemoration in the crematorium courtyard at the inauguration ceremony of the Buchenwald National Memorial, 1958. Photo: Ernst Schäfer.

©Buchenwald Memorial
A large procession of participants of the opening ceremony of the National Memorial walks down the Street of Nations, through the one ring grave and up the stairs towards the Freedom Tower. The fire bowls on the pylons of the Street of Nations are lit.
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Participants of the opening ceremony, in the background the Street of Nations, the fire bowls of the pylons are lit, 1958. photo: Ernst Schäfer.

©Buchenwald Memorial
Inauguration ceremony of the Buchenwald National Memorial. Soldiers of the National People's Army of the GDR on the roll call square with a wreath from the Central Committee of the SED on the way to the Thälmann tribute in the inner courtyard of the crematorium. In the background the gate building.
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Inauguration ceremony of the Buchenwald National Memorial, 1958. Photo: Ernst Schäfer.

© Buchenwald Memorial
A large crowd of people with isolated flags standing in front of the Tower of Liberty and to another crowd with higher density of flags at the entrance of the Bell Tower.
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Participants in the opening ceremony of the National Memorial at the foot of the Tower of Liberty, 1958. Photo: Ernst Schäfer.

©Buchenwald Memorial
A large crowd has gathered between the bell tower and Fritz Cremer's group of figures.
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Inauguration ceremony of the Buchenwald National Memorial. Large rally at the bell tower. In the background the sculpture by Fritz Cremer, 1958. Photo: Ernst Schäfer.

©Buchenwald Memorial
Inauguration ceremony of the Buchenwald National Memorial. The view from the tower shows the participants of the large rally at the bell tower. In the center of the picture is the sculpture by Fritz Cremer.
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Participants in the large rally at the bell tower for the inauguration ceremony of the Buchenwald National Memorial, 1958. Photo: Ernst Schäfer. ©Buchenwald Memorial
The sculpture by Fritz Cremer erected on the Platz der Freiheit can be seen in the foreground from behind. On the left side in the background is a crowd of people looking in the direction of the sculpture.
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High-ranking participants of the opening ceremony of the National Memorial examine the sculpture by Fritz Cremer, 1958, placed on the Platz der Freiheit. Photo: Ernst Schäfer.

© Buchenwald Memorial
A memorial stone on the grounds of the former prisoners' camp, around which wreaths and flower arrangements have been laid. Passing visitors to the memorial site look concerned.
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Memorial stone in the former prisoners' camp at the opening of the National Memorial, 1958. Photo: Ernst Schäfer.

© Buchenwald Memorial
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