Newcomers. People in exile – exhibition in Leipzig
Photo: Stephan Jockel, Grafik Space 4
Pop-up exhibition by the German Exile Archive 1933–1945 held in the German National Library in Leipzig.
7 to 24 October 2025
In the first place, we don’t like to be called “refugees”. We ourselves call each other “newcomers” or “immigrants”. Those are the first sentences of Hannah Arendt’s famous essay “We Refugees” that was published in the Menorah Journal in early 1943. In her text the philosopher describes the situation of stateless displaced persons before and during World War II. Arendt herself had fled to Paris in 1933 before emigrating to the USA in 1941.
There she became one of the most famous political philosophers of the 20th century.
The pop-up exhibition shows people who fled into exile during the Nazi era – their experiences were highly individual. However, what they had in common was that they built new lives for themselves in exile, becoming 'newcomers', as Arendt refers to them in the original English text.
The individuals and exhibits featured in the pop-up exhibition are a selection from the permanent exhibition “Exile: Experience and Testimony” at the German Exile Archive 1933–1945 at the German National Library in Frankfurt am Main.
Information for your visit
Opening hours and admission
Admission free
Information about opening hours will follow.
Adress and getting here
German National Library
Deutscher Platz 1
04103 Leipzig
Getting here
We advise you to use public transport.
1 / By public transport
By rail
From the main railway station, take one of the S-Bahn trains in the direction of south: S1 or S2 in the direction of Stötteritz, S3 in the direction of Wurzen/Oschatz, S 4 in the direction of Markkleeberg-Gaschwitz, S5/S5X in the direction of Zwickau or S6 in the direction of Geithain. Get off at the “Leipzig MDR” station (Journey time approx. 7 minutes). Exit onto “Semmelweisstraße“, then turn right and continue for 800 m to the intersection at “Straße des 18. Oktober“.
Alternatively, take tram line 16 from platform 2 in front of the main railway station (in the direction of Lößnig) and get off at “Deutsche Nationalbibliothek”. Journey time approx. 11 minutes.
By air
From Leipzig/Halle airport, take S-Bahn S5/S5X in the direction of Zwickau. Journey time approx. 30 minutes, get off at “Leipzig MDR”. Exit onto Semmelweisstraße, then turn right and continue for 800 m to the intersection at "Straße des 18. Oktober".
2 / By bike
The German National Library in Leipzig can easily be reached by bike. You can get to the DNB by taking the cycle paths on Straße des 18. Oktobers, Semmelweißstraße, and Philipp-Rosenthal-Straße. A cycle lane also runs past the DNB's main entrance. Numerous bicycle parking spaces are available along this lane and at the main entrance to the German Museum of Books and Writing. The bicycle racks in front of the museum are covered.
Besides taking the cycle lane, you can reach the bicycle parking spaces via a passageway from the junction of Semmelweißstraße/Philipp-Rosenthal-Straße through the DNB's tower courtyard.
3 / By car
Approaching from the north
Take the A9 to the Schkeuditzer Kreuz intersection, continue on the A14 towards Dresden and take the Leipzig-Mitte (city centre) exit; continue on the B2 towards Leipzig city centre as far as the intersection at Prager Straße/Semmelweisstraße (follow the signs for “Deutsche Nationalbibliothek”).
Approaching from the south and east
Take the A9 or A14, change to the A38 and continue to the Leipzig-Süd exit; change to the B2 and continue to the Südvorstadt exit; turn right into Kurt-Eisner-Straße and continue to the German National Library.
4 / Accessibility
The German National Library in Leipzig has disabled parking spaces right in front of the building. The entrance for disabled visitors is signposted. The reading rooms and cafeteria are accessible by lift.
Last changes:
10.09.2025
