A city in flux

A city in eastern Germany, Chemnitz has a long and important history as an industrial metropolis. Thanks to rapidindustrialisation in the 19th century, Chemnitz evolved to become a major centre for innovation. The city played a leading role, especially when it came to manufacturing machines for the textile industry.  

The Saxon Manchester 

The “Saxon Manchester”, as Chemnitz was also nicknamed in Germany on account of its ubiquitous factories and smokestacks, was also regarded as an important innovative hub in other areas, with an impact that went far beyond the region itself. Though many of the inventors and innovative entrepreneurs were not actually from Chemnitz originally, they found conditions ideal there. In 1881, Adolf Ferdinand Weinhold developed a thermos vessel for laboratory experiments that is seen as the precursor to today’s thermos flask; in 1932, Chemnitz-born Heinrich Gottlob Bertsch invented the world’s first entirely synthetic laundry detergent, also known by the name Fewa. That same year, four automotive manufacturers from the region established Auto Union, a predecessor of today’s carmaker Audi. 

Karl-Marx-Stadt 

Chemnitz was badly damaged during the Second World War. Following the end of the war, the city was renamed Karl-Marx-Stadt in 1953 - after the founder of socialist doctrine - and became part of the German Democratic Republic (GDR). The city was rebuilt in line with the principles of socialist urban planning. Numerous buildings made from prefabricated slabs were put up, dominating the city skyline and providing housing for the working population. Unveiled in 1971, the Karl Marx Monument, the imposing sculpture of the German philosopher’s head, became the city’s landmark. As a popular site for dissident demonstrations, the monument - known locally as the “Nischel” (a Central German dialect word for “skull”) - also played an important role in the political revolution of 1989/90that resulted in the city regaining its historic name Chemnitz. 

European Capital of Culture 

Nowadays, the city - one of the fastest-growing in Germany - is regarded as an important technological centre and is home to numerous innovative companies and start-ups. Chemnitz is also known for its unique blend of historic and contemporary architecture. The Kassberg district is one of Germany’s largest contiguous areas of Wilhelmine and art nouveau architecture. As European Capital of Culture, the city intends to use art projects to reinterpret and highlight its industrial history. “C the Unseen” is the slogan of the Capital of Culture programme, which encompasses 150 projects and 1,000 events. Workshops, festivals and events will take place in former industrial buildings and artists will embellish the city with installations and sculptures.