From small beginnings, an association was formed over the years, whose number of members is now stable at around 300. In 1996, the association came under pressure when the offices and library of the documentation centre had to move to the town archive due to a majority decision of the town council. This meant that local unity in research and, above all, in the care of visitors to the Friedrich-Ebert-Straße was no longer guaranteed. Since then, the Support Association has been working to restore this unity and to provide the NS-Dokumentationsstelle der Stadt Krefeld with sufficient basic personnel and financial resources.

Over the years, the association has repeatedly provided funds that could not be raised from the city budget - for additional supporting staff, technical equipment, individual projects and the colourful mix of the event programme. At present, the association is trying to create a cultural programme that also presents lesser-known works of expressionist art. The Campendonk pictures from 1925 are thus to be put into the context of their time of origin. The voluntary commitment of the association members also enables additional opening hours at the Villa Merländer and the participation of the NS-Documentation Centre in events such as the International Museum Day, the Cultural Market and the Memorial Day, where many helping hands are needed.

Download our statutes here.