Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear visitors of our website,

I am very pleased to welcome you.

65 years ago a terrible war, that had caused the suffering of millions of people, ended. Our town sheltered during the last year of the war many hundreds of forced laborers and prisoners of war, who worked under inhumane conditions at the construction of the subterranean weapons factory "REIMAHG" near Kahla/Grosseutersdorf. Many of them found their last rest in Kleindembach.

But also people of Langenorla were killed, while being sacrificed without any cause for a unwinnable war.

The progress of the U.S. Army soldiers, mid-April 1945, did not only mean the end of this war, but also liberated the German population from a dictatorship.
We found ourselves under American custody, until the beginning of July 1945, where Thuringia was handed over to Soviet occupational forces. The reunification of Germany and started with the fall of the Wall in 1989, also brought an end to this period. 

Since many years, our community has had a close relationship with the word "Remembrance". This tradition is something we want to continue during the 65th Anniversary of the end of WW2, as well as the "Europe Day" that is celebrated on May 8th and also remember the victims of this war. 

I would like to welcome especially our foreign guests, the Veterans of the U.S. Army and their relatives, as well as the participants of the international youth camp. You will feel yourselves very quickly at home with us. I would like to ask our population to get in touch and seek friendship with our guests. 

Our town and numerous committed helpers have given themselves since last year a great deal of effort, to organize this event in dignity, which will proof to be an unique and very special event. I think that this will be very appreciated by our visitors.

It's good to live in our town. When you want to convince yourself of this, then please stop by! We would be very pleased to welcome you on May 8th !



Georg Graven
Mayor Langenorla