Dokumentationszentrum Flucht, Vertreibung, Versöhnung

With the aim of commemorating flight and expulsion in the 20th century, the Stiftung Flucht, Vertreibung, Versöhnung (SFVV) in Berlin is established as a public-law institution. It sees itself as a place of remembrance that examines the historical contexts of forced migrations and places them in a European and global context.

The former Deutschlandhaus in the Kreuzberg district of Berlin was chosen as its seat. The building is owned by the Bundesanstalt für Immobilienaufgaben; the renovation was overseen by a federal authority. The foundation uses around half of the refurbished rooms; the federal government bore the renovation costs of nearly €30 million. The completed facility was inaugurated in June 2021 and opened to the public a few days later.

Legally, the SFVV was established at the end of 2008 as a dependent foundation under the Act establishing the "Deutsches Historisches Museum" foundation (DHMG) and is under the sponsorship of the Stiftung Deutsches Historisches Museum. Anchored in § 16 DHMG, its mandate is, in the spirit of reconciliation, to preserve the memory and commemoration of flight and expulsion of the 20th century against the historical background of the Second World War and the Nazi expansionist and extermination policies. Core tasks include establishing and further developing a permanent exhibition, temporary exhibitions, research communication, the collection and documentation of records and eyewitness accounts, and cooperation with German and international research institutions. Administrative responsibility was transferred to the Bundesministerium des Innern in 2025.

Governance comprises a foundation council, which determines the programmatic outlines, and a scientific advisory board for expert consultation; both bodies were installed in 2009. Conceptually, the planned permanent exhibition is organized chronologically across two floors and three sections, including the modules "Das Jahrhundert der Flüchtlinge – Zwangsmigrationen in Europa", "Flucht und Vertreibung der Deutschen im europäischen Kontext" (working title) and "Vertriebene und Flüchtlinge in Deutschland seit 1945" (working title). The exhibition is intended to convey the causes, processes and consequences of expulsions at global, European and German levels; it is currently being revised in response to criticism from certain associations.

The institution has repeatedly been the subject of political and professional debate: disputes over the location, disagreements about committee appointments, and alternative exhibition concepts led to public confrontations and resignations within advisory circles. There was also criticism of procurement conditions for media productions and of content exclusions. Institutionally, the SFVV is funded exclusively by the federal government; institutional funding amounted to €7.781 million (2021) and €8.477 million (2022).