Erfurt
Sorbenweg 7, 99099 Erfurt, Deutschland
Memorial Site Topf & Sons | Opening Hours & Directions
The Memorial Site Topf & Sons in Erfurt is not a classic excursion destination and not a place for mere sightseeing, but a historical learning and memorial site on the former company premises of J. A. Topf & Sons. The city of Erfurt has deliberately created a space here where the entanglement of industry, technology, labor, and responsibility in the Nazi crimes becomes visible. The site is now a history museum of the state capital Erfurt and is professionally managed in permanent cooperation with the Buchenwald and Mittelbau-Dora Memorials Foundation. Erfurt describes the memorial site as a unique historical location where the complicity of private business in mass murder can be traced at the former company headquarters. Those looking for a place that is easily accessible, can be visited free of charge, and at the same time leads deeply into German history will find here an exceptionally dense and sober access to the past. It is precisely this combination of authenticity, documentation, and educational ambition that makes the memorial site an important destination for those interested in history, school classes, students, and anyone seeking a solid access to the history of the Holocaust. ([erfurt.de](https://www.erfurt.de/ef/de/erleben/kunst/museen/128689.html))
Why the Memorial Site Topf & Sons in Erfurt is so significant
The story begins in 1878 when J. A. Topf founded a heating technology construction business in Erfurt. In 1889, the company purchased its own premises on the outskirts of the city; by 1914, it already employed over 500 people. In this early phase, the company grew to become a specialist provider of heating systems, brewery, and malting facilities, before the production of cremation furnaces for crematoria became another business field. In the 1920s, Topf & Sons developed into the leading provider in this market. This technical and industrial background is important because it shows that the later involvement in the Nazi extermination policy did not come out of nowhere, but became possible in a company that had specialized in heating technology, construction, and production for decades. The current memorial site starts exactly here: it not only makes a building visible but also a historical connection between economy, technology, and moral responsibility. From an SEO perspective, this is one of the strongest aspects of the site, as history, industrial culture, and memorial culture connect closely here. ([topfundsoehne.de](https://www.topfundsoehne.de/ts/de/ort/chronik/index.html))
From 1939, the company began supplying the SS with specially developed cremation furnaces for concentration camps; they were constructed, among others, by the engineer Kurt Prüfer. In 1942, the company submitted a patent application for a continuously operating furnace for mass production, knowing about the mass murder with gas in Auschwitz. In 1943, the large crematoria in the extermination camp Auschwitz-Birkenau were equipped with furnaces and ventilation technology from Erfurt. These historical facts are the core of what the memorial site makes visible: not abstract guilt, but concrete complicity, documented through company history, technology history, and administrative sources. After 1945, arrests, convictions in Moscow, nationalization, renaming, and finally, in 1963, the bankruptcy of the Mainz successor company followed. The history of the site does not end there, as from 1993, Topf & Sons returned to the public eye internationally, the support association was founded in 1999, in 2007 the Erfurt city council unanimously decided on a memorial site, in 2010 the interior construction began, and on January 27, 2011, it was opened. This chronology shows that the current site is the result of long scientific, civil society, and municipal engagement. ([topfundsoehne.de](https://www.topfundsoehne.de/ts/de/ort/chronik/index.html))
Permanent Exhibition Engineers of the Final Solution and Outdoor Exhibition
The centerpiece of the house is the permanent exhibition 'Engineers of the Final Solution', which was developed from an earlier traveling exhibition and adapted for the permanent site in the planning rooms of the former administrative building. Right at this historical location, where documents and plans for business relations with the SS were once created, the exhibition shows the intertwining of corporate everyday life, technology, administrative processes, and murder policy. It is particularly striking that the original documents and plans return to the place where they were created in the context of operational cooperation with the SS. The exhibition is not designed as a museum backdrop but as a content-focused learning space that connects technical, economic, and ethical questions. According to official representation, it does not simply follow a chronological scheme but works with thematic approaches that make the history of the company and its role in the Nazi extermination system understandable. This is important for visitors because it not only conveys historical information but also brings the question of decision-making spaces, complicity, and responsibility in everyday work to the forefront. ([topfundsoehne.de](https://www.topfundsoehne.de/ts/en/exhibitions/permanent_exhibitions/the_engineers/index.html))
In January, the permanent exhibition was renewed and reopened after four months of closure; it has been updated according to new research findings and supplemented by the multimedia installation 'Voices of the Survivors', in which reports from eight Auschwitz survivors can be heard. This gives the site a particularly immediate dimension, as historical documents and personal testimonies are connected. Outside, the outdoor exhibition 'In the Midst of Society. J. A. Topf & Sons and the Holocaust' complements the interior with information panels at key points on the grounds. Thus, the history of the former company headquarters is not only readable in the building but throughout the entire area. In addition, the exhibition 'Where Are You Taking Us? 'Euthanasia' Crimes in National Socialism' addresses the Nazi crimes against people with intellectual, mental, or physical disabilities, thus broadening the view beyond the history of the company to other contexts of persecution and murder. Currently, the memorial site also shows 'Pursuing and Clarifying. The First Generation of Holocaust Research' until May 17, 2027. This means that the house does not remain stuck in the past but connects historical documentation with the question of how the first researchers secured evidence and processed the Shoah after 1945. ([topfundsoehne.de](https://www.topfundsoehne.de/))
Opening Hours, Free Admission, Directions, and Parking
For visitors, the memorial site is pleasantly clearly organized. It is located at Sorbenweg 7 in 99099 Erfurt, open from Tuesday to Sunday between 10 AM and 6 PM; the house is closed on Mondays. Admission is free. Those arriving by public transport can take bus line 9 from the main train station towards Daberstedt to the Spielbergtor stop, and reach the entrance after about four minutes of walking. Alternatively, tram lines 3 and 4 stop at Robert-Koch-Straße, from where the walk takes about 15 minutes. The site is also reachable on foot from the main train station in about 15 minutes. By car, follow the B7 towards Weimar. There are parking spaces on site, and behind the house, there is a parking area designated for guests in wheelchairs. This combination of central location, clear signage, and free admission makes a visit uncomplicated and lowers the threshold for spontaneous as well as planned visits. This is particularly practical for locals, guests from Thuringia, or travelers who want to combine several places in Erfurt, as the memorial site can be integrated into a city visit without complicated logistics. ([topfundsoehne.de](https://www.topfundsoehne.de/ts/de/service/besucherservice/index.html))
It is also important that the memorial site is not designed for event operations but for education and remembrance. During special exhibitions, opening hours may be restricted due to educational use; then the visitor service refers to the central telephone number. This structure shows that the site does not operate according to commercial rhythms but according to content-related and educational planning. This is also relevant for SEO, as many search queries regarding opening hours, directions, and parking seek exactly this practical certainty: When can I come, how do I get there, and where do I park? The official information answers these questions very concretely. For groups, it is also possible to register in advance. This facilitates school trips, project days, and thematic excursions. Those who plan their visit well can connect the tour with the historical contextualization of the site and then complement it with the city center of Erfurt or other museums. Thus, a simple trip becomes a meaningful cultural and educational visit. ([topfundsoehne.de](https://www.topfundsoehne.de/ts/de/service/besucherservice/index.html))
Accessibility and Visitor Service
Accessibility is not a secondary issue here but part of the visitor concept. All floors are accessible, there is an elevator, a mobile ramp, and a restroom for wheelchair users on the ground floor. Access for wheelchair users is possible from the back of the house; from there, paved paths and a ramp lead to the side entrance. Assistance dogs are welcome, and guided tours in easy language can be offered upon prior arrangement. Additionally, the memorial site is certified according to the nationwide valid system 'Travel for All'. This is particularly helpful for families, groups with different needs, and people with disabilities, as planning becomes significantly easier in advance. The official visitor regulations and the clearly structured service page also show that the site actively accompanies visitors rather than just letting them in. For a memorial and educational institution, this is an important quality factor, as inclusive accessibility is now part of the educational mission. ([topfundsoehne.de](https://www.topfundsoehne.de/ts/de/service/besucherservice/index.html))
For groups, there are specific registration forms for school classes and other groups; the visitor service coordinates guided tours and seminars. The official contact structure is therefore not only aimed at individual visitors but explicitly at schools, associations, and training groups. This is particularly important when an excursion with an educational focus is planned, as it allows for the discussion of not only the visit but also the content and processes in advance. The website provides a fixed contact person in the visitor service, making it clear that the site functions more as a place of learning than as a casual sight. Those who integrate the memorial site into a larger visit to Erfurt also benefit from the short distances from the main train station and the explicit recommendation to use public transport. Thus, the site connects historical-moral depth with very useful, accessible visitor information. This is a clear advantage over many other cultural sites, especially for search queries regarding accessibility, admission, directions, or group service, as the practical orientation is already clearly formulated on the official page. ([topfundsoehne.de](https://www.topfundsoehne.de/ts/de/service/besucherservice/index.html))
Education, Library, Current Special Exhibitions as well as Photos and Media Library
As an extracurricular learning site, the memorial site is aimed at young people from the 9th grade onwards. The educational offerings range from dialogical guided tours through the exhibition to several-hour seminars. The content focuses on the company's involvement in the Nazi crimes, business relations with the SS, motives and options for action in everyday professional life, and the question of what responsibility can mean in technology, economy, and administration. The permanent exhibition is not only viewed but is repeatedly connected with questions about the present and personal attitudes. Additionally, the house collaborates with numerous schools and educational institutions in Erfurt and Thuringia and adapts its cooperations to the needs of the partners. This creates a place where historical education, political education, and ethical reflection intertwine. For search queries regarding programs, tours, seminars, or educational sites, this is central, as the memorial site not only shows but actively explains, structures, and deepens. ([topfundsoehne.de](https://www.topfundsoehne.de/mam/ts/aktuelles/2024/imagebroschure.pdf))
Additionally, a scientific reference library is available, which, according to the city of Erfurt, contains more than 3,300 books, magazines, and DVDs on National Socialism, Jewish history, memorial culture, industrial history, right-wing extremism, and related topics. The library is open from Tuesday to Friday from 10 AM to 6 PM and can be used by students, researchers, and participants in educational offerings. Those looking for photos, images, or press information will find a media library on the website with images, photos, videos, audios, speeches, press reviews, and publications. This makes the digital presence useful for people who want to research in advance, need material for teaching or reports, or simply want to get a sense of the atmosphere. Also, in reviews, the focus of the house is clearly recognizable: the official presence primarily emphasizes history, service information, and illustrative documentation; those seeking personal evaluations will find them more on external platforms. For the memorial site itself, it remains crucial that it makes historical facts visible, accessible, and understandable. So, for those looking for photos, images, or background knowledge, the official pages provide reliable materials without having to navigate through confusing event or ticket structures. ([erfurt.de](https://www.erfurt.de/ef/de/leben/bildung/bibliotheken/museen/117389.html?utm_source=openai))
Sources:
- Memorial Site Topf & Sons - Homepage ([topfundsoehne.de](https://www.topfundsoehne.de/))
- Topf & Sons - History of the Site ([topfundsoehne.de](https://www.topfundsoehne.de/ts/de/ort/chronik/index.html))
- Topf & Sons - Visitor Service ([topfundsoehne.de](https://www.topfundsoehne.de/ts/de/service/besucherservice/index.html))
- Topf & Sons - The Exhibition 'The Engineers of the Final Solution' ([topfundsoehne.de](https://www.topfundsoehne.de/ts/en/exhibitions/permanent_exhibitions/the_engineers/index.html))
- Erfurt.de - Memorial Site Topf & Sons ([erfurt.de](https://www.erfurt.de/ef/de/erleben/kunst/museen/128689.html))
Show moreShow less
Memorial Site Topf & Sons | Opening Hours & Directions
The Memorial Site Topf & Sons in Erfurt is not a classic excursion destination and not a place for mere sightseeing, but a historical learning and memorial site on the former company premises of J. A. Topf & Sons. The city of Erfurt has deliberately created a space here where the entanglement of industry, technology, labor, and responsibility in the Nazi crimes becomes visible. The site is now a history museum of the state capital Erfurt and is professionally managed in permanent cooperation with the Buchenwald and Mittelbau-Dora Memorials Foundation. Erfurt describes the memorial site as a unique historical location where the complicity of private business in mass murder can be traced at the former company headquarters. Those looking for a place that is easily accessible, can be visited free of charge, and at the same time leads deeply into German history will find here an exceptionally dense and sober access to the past. It is precisely this combination of authenticity, documentation, and educational ambition that makes the memorial site an important destination for those interested in history, school classes, students, and anyone seeking a solid access to the history of the Holocaust. ([erfurt.de](https://www.erfurt.de/ef/de/erleben/kunst/museen/128689.html))
Why the Memorial Site Topf & Sons in Erfurt is so significant
The story begins in 1878 when J. A. Topf founded a heating technology construction business in Erfurt. In 1889, the company purchased its own premises on the outskirts of the city; by 1914, it already employed over 500 people. In this early phase, the company grew to become a specialist provider of heating systems, brewery, and malting facilities, before the production of cremation furnaces for crematoria became another business field. In the 1920s, Topf & Sons developed into the leading provider in this market. This technical and industrial background is important because it shows that the later involvement in the Nazi extermination policy did not come out of nowhere, but became possible in a company that had specialized in heating technology, construction, and production for decades. The current memorial site starts exactly here: it not only makes a building visible but also a historical connection between economy, technology, and moral responsibility. From an SEO perspective, this is one of the strongest aspects of the site, as history, industrial culture, and memorial culture connect closely here. ([topfundsoehne.de](https://www.topfundsoehne.de/ts/de/ort/chronik/index.html))
From 1939, the company began supplying the SS with specially developed cremation furnaces for concentration camps; they were constructed, among others, by the engineer Kurt Prüfer. In 1942, the company submitted a patent application for a continuously operating furnace for mass production, knowing about the mass murder with gas in Auschwitz. In 1943, the large crematoria in the extermination camp Auschwitz-Birkenau were equipped with furnaces and ventilation technology from Erfurt. These historical facts are the core of what the memorial site makes visible: not abstract guilt, but concrete complicity, documented through company history, technology history, and administrative sources. After 1945, arrests, convictions in Moscow, nationalization, renaming, and finally, in 1963, the bankruptcy of the Mainz successor company followed. The history of the site does not end there, as from 1993, Topf & Sons returned to the public eye internationally, the support association was founded in 1999, in 2007 the Erfurt city council unanimously decided on a memorial site, in 2010 the interior construction began, and on January 27, 2011, it was opened. This chronology shows that the current site is the result of long scientific, civil society, and municipal engagement. ([topfundsoehne.de](https://www.topfundsoehne.de/ts/de/ort/chronik/index.html))
Permanent Exhibition Engineers of the Final Solution and Outdoor Exhibition
The centerpiece of the house is the permanent exhibition 'Engineers of the Final Solution', which was developed from an earlier traveling exhibition and adapted for the permanent site in the planning rooms of the former administrative building. Right at this historical location, where documents and plans for business relations with the SS were once created, the exhibition shows the intertwining of corporate everyday life, technology, administrative processes, and murder policy. It is particularly striking that the original documents and plans return to the place where they were created in the context of operational cooperation with the SS. The exhibition is not designed as a museum backdrop but as a content-focused learning space that connects technical, economic, and ethical questions. According to official representation, it does not simply follow a chronological scheme but works with thematic approaches that make the history of the company and its role in the Nazi extermination system understandable. This is important for visitors because it not only conveys historical information but also brings the question of decision-making spaces, complicity, and responsibility in everyday work to the forefront. ([topfundsoehne.de](https://www.topfundsoehne.de/ts/en/exhibitions/permanent_exhibitions/the_engineers/index.html))
In January, the permanent exhibition was renewed and reopened after four months of closure; it has been updated according to new research findings and supplemented by the multimedia installation 'Voices of the Survivors', in which reports from eight Auschwitz survivors can be heard. This gives the site a particularly immediate dimension, as historical documents and personal testimonies are connected. Outside, the outdoor exhibition 'In the Midst of Society. J. A. Topf & Sons and the Holocaust' complements the interior with information panels at key points on the grounds. Thus, the history of the former company headquarters is not only readable in the building but throughout the entire area. In addition, the exhibition 'Where Are You Taking Us? 'Euthanasia' Crimes in National Socialism' addresses the Nazi crimes against people with intellectual, mental, or physical disabilities, thus broadening the view beyond the history of the company to other contexts of persecution and murder. Currently, the memorial site also shows 'Pursuing and Clarifying. The First Generation of Holocaust Research' until May 17, 2027. This means that the house does not remain stuck in the past but connects historical documentation with the question of how the first researchers secured evidence and processed the Shoah after 1945. ([topfundsoehne.de](https://www.topfundsoehne.de/))
Opening Hours, Free Admission, Directions, and Parking
For visitors, the memorial site is pleasantly clearly organized. It is located at Sorbenweg 7 in 99099 Erfurt, open from Tuesday to Sunday between 10 AM and 6 PM; the house is closed on Mondays. Admission is free. Those arriving by public transport can take bus line 9 from the main train station towards Daberstedt to the Spielbergtor stop, and reach the entrance after about four minutes of walking. Alternatively, tram lines 3 and 4 stop at Robert-Koch-Straße, from where the walk takes about 15 minutes. The site is also reachable on foot from the main train station in about 15 minutes. By car, follow the B7 towards Weimar. There are parking spaces on site, and behind the house, there is a parking area designated for guests in wheelchairs. This combination of central location, clear signage, and free admission makes a visit uncomplicated and lowers the threshold for spontaneous as well as planned visits. This is particularly practical for locals, guests from Thuringia, or travelers who want to combine several places in Erfurt, as the memorial site can be integrated into a city visit without complicated logistics. ([topfundsoehne.de](https://www.topfundsoehne.de/ts/de/service/besucherservice/index.html))
It is also important that the memorial site is not designed for event operations but for education and remembrance. During special exhibitions, opening hours may be restricted due to educational use; then the visitor service refers to the central telephone number. This structure shows that the site does not operate according to commercial rhythms but according to content-related and educational planning. This is also relevant for SEO, as many search queries regarding opening hours, directions, and parking seek exactly this practical certainty: When can I come, how do I get there, and where do I park? The official information answers these questions very concretely. For groups, it is also possible to register in advance. This facilitates school trips, project days, and thematic excursions. Those who plan their visit well can connect the tour with the historical contextualization of the site and then complement it with the city center of Erfurt or other museums. Thus, a simple trip becomes a meaningful cultural and educational visit. ([topfundsoehne.de](https://www.topfundsoehne.de/ts/de/service/besucherservice/index.html))
Accessibility and Visitor Service
Accessibility is not a secondary issue here but part of the visitor concept. All floors are accessible, there is an elevator, a mobile ramp, and a restroom for wheelchair users on the ground floor. Access for wheelchair users is possible from the back of the house; from there, paved paths and a ramp lead to the side entrance. Assistance dogs are welcome, and guided tours in easy language can be offered upon prior arrangement. Additionally, the memorial site is certified according to the nationwide valid system 'Travel for All'. This is particularly helpful for families, groups with different needs, and people with disabilities, as planning becomes significantly easier in advance. The official visitor regulations and the clearly structured service page also show that the site actively accompanies visitors rather than just letting them in. For a memorial and educational institution, this is an important quality factor, as inclusive accessibility is now part of the educational mission. ([topfundsoehne.de](https://www.topfundsoehne.de/ts/de/service/besucherservice/index.html))
For groups, there are specific registration forms for school classes and other groups; the visitor service coordinates guided tours and seminars. The official contact structure is therefore not only aimed at individual visitors but explicitly at schools, associations, and training groups. This is particularly important when an excursion with an educational focus is planned, as it allows for the discussion of not only the visit but also the content and processes in advance. The website provides a fixed contact person in the visitor service, making it clear that the site functions more as a place of learning than as a casual sight. Those who integrate the memorial site into a larger visit to Erfurt also benefit from the short distances from the main train station and the explicit recommendation to use public transport. Thus, the site connects historical-moral depth with very useful, accessible visitor information. This is a clear advantage over many other cultural sites, especially for search queries regarding accessibility, admission, directions, or group service, as the practical orientation is already clearly formulated on the official page. ([topfundsoehne.de](https://www.topfundsoehne.de/ts/de/service/besucherservice/index.html))
Education, Library, Current Special Exhibitions as well as Photos and Media Library
As an extracurricular learning site, the memorial site is aimed at young people from the 9th grade onwards. The educational offerings range from dialogical guided tours through the exhibition to several-hour seminars. The content focuses on the company's involvement in the Nazi crimes, business relations with the SS, motives and options for action in everyday professional life, and the question of what responsibility can mean in technology, economy, and administration. The permanent exhibition is not only viewed but is repeatedly connected with questions about the present and personal attitudes. Additionally, the house collaborates with numerous schools and educational institutions in Erfurt and Thuringia and adapts its cooperations to the needs of the partners. This creates a place where historical education, political education, and ethical reflection intertwine. For search queries regarding programs, tours, seminars, or educational sites, this is central, as the memorial site not only shows but actively explains, structures, and deepens. ([topfundsoehne.de](https://www.topfundsoehne.de/mam/ts/aktuelles/2024/imagebroschure.pdf))
Additionally, a scientific reference library is available, which, according to the city of Erfurt, contains more than 3,300 books, magazines, and DVDs on National Socialism, Jewish history, memorial culture, industrial history, right-wing extremism, and related topics. The library is open from Tuesday to Friday from 10 AM to 6 PM and can be used by students, researchers, and participants in educational offerings. Those looking for photos, images, or press information will find a media library on the website with images, photos, videos, audios, speeches, press reviews, and publications. This makes the digital presence useful for people who want to research in advance, need material for teaching or reports, or simply want to get a sense of the atmosphere. Also, in reviews, the focus of the house is clearly recognizable: the official presence primarily emphasizes history, service information, and illustrative documentation; those seeking personal evaluations will find them more on external platforms. For the memorial site itself, it remains crucial that it makes historical facts visible, accessible, and understandable. So, for those looking for photos, images, or background knowledge, the official pages provide reliable materials without having to navigate through confusing event or ticket structures. ([erfurt.de](https://www.erfurt.de/ef/de/leben/bildung/bibliotheken/museen/117389.html?utm_source=openai))
Sources:
- Memorial Site Topf & Sons - Homepage ([topfundsoehne.de](https://www.topfundsoehne.de/))
- Topf & Sons - History of the Site ([topfundsoehne.de](https://www.topfundsoehne.de/ts/de/ort/chronik/index.html))
- Topf & Sons - Visitor Service ([topfundsoehne.de](https://www.topfundsoehne.de/ts/de/service/besucherservice/index.html))
- Topf & Sons - The Exhibition 'The Engineers of the Final Solution' ([topfundsoehne.de](https://www.topfundsoehne.de/ts/en/exhibitions/permanent_exhibitions/the_engineers/index.html))
- Erfurt.de - Memorial Site Topf & Sons ([erfurt.de](https://www.erfurt.de/ef/de/erleben/kunst/museen/128689.html))
Memorial Site Topf & Sons | Opening Hours & Directions
The Memorial Site Topf & Sons in Erfurt is not a classic excursion destination and not a place for mere sightseeing, but a historical learning and memorial site on the former company premises of J. A. Topf & Sons. The city of Erfurt has deliberately created a space here where the entanglement of industry, technology, labor, and responsibility in the Nazi crimes becomes visible. The site is now a history museum of the state capital Erfurt and is professionally managed in permanent cooperation with the Buchenwald and Mittelbau-Dora Memorials Foundation. Erfurt describes the memorial site as a unique historical location where the complicity of private business in mass murder can be traced at the former company headquarters. Those looking for a place that is easily accessible, can be visited free of charge, and at the same time leads deeply into German history will find here an exceptionally dense and sober access to the past. It is precisely this combination of authenticity, documentation, and educational ambition that makes the memorial site an important destination for those interested in history, school classes, students, and anyone seeking a solid access to the history of the Holocaust. ([erfurt.de](https://www.erfurt.de/ef/de/erleben/kunst/museen/128689.html))
Why the Memorial Site Topf & Sons in Erfurt is so significant
The story begins in 1878 when J. A. Topf founded a heating technology construction business in Erfurt. In 1889, the company purchased its own premises on the outskirts of the city; by 1914, it already employed over 500 people. In this early phase, the company grew to become a specialist provider of heating systems, brewery, and malting facilities, before the production of cremation furnaces for crematoria became another business field. In the 1920s, Topf & Sons developed into the leading provider in this market. This technical and industrial background is important because it shows that the later involvement in the Nazi extermination policy did not come out of nowhere, but became possible in a company that had specialized in heating technology, construction, and production for decades. The current memorial site starts exactly here: it not only makes a building visible but also a historical connection between economy, technology, and moral responsibility. From an SEO perspective, this is one of the strongest aspects of the site, as history, industrial culture, and memorial culture connect closely here. ([topfundsoehne.de](https://www.topfundsoehne.de/ts/de/ort/chronik/index.html))
From 1939, the company began supplying the SS with specially developed cremation furnaces for concentration camps; they were constructed, among others, by the engineer Kurt Prüfer. In 1942, the company submitted a patent application for a continuously operating furnace for mass production, knowing about the mass murder with gas in Auschwitz. In 1943, the large crematoria in the extermination camp Auschwitz-Birkenau were equipped with furnaces and ventilation technology from Erfurt. These historical facts are the core of what the memorial site makes visible: not abstract guilt, but concrete complicity, documented through company history, technology history, and administrative sources. After 1945, arrests, convictions in Moscow, nationalization, renaming, and finally, in 1963, the bankruptcy of the Mainz successor company followed. The history of the site does not end there, as from 1993, Topf & Sons returned to the public eye internationally, the support association was founded in 1999, in 2007 the Erfurt city council unanimously decided on a memorial site, in 2010 the interior construction began, and on January 27, 2011, it was opened. This chronology shows that the current site is the result of long scientific, civil society, and municipal engagement. ([topfundsoehne.de](https://www.topfundsoehne.de/ts/de/ort/chronik/index.html))
Permanent Exhibition Engineers of the Final Solution and Outdoor Exhibition
The centerpiece of the house is the permanent exhibition 'Engineers of the Final Solution', which was developed from an earlier traveling exhibition and adapted for the permanent site in the planning rooms of the former administrative building. Right at this historical location, where documents and plans for business relations with the SS were once created, the exhibition shows the intertwining of corporate everyday life, technology, administrative processes, and murder policy. It is particularly striking that the original documents and plans return to the place where they were created in the context of operational cooperation with the SS. The exhibition is not designed as a museum backdrop but as a content-focused learning space that connects technical, economic, and ethical questions. According to official representation, it does not simply follow a chronological scheme but works with thematic approaches that make the history of the company and its role in the Nazi extermination system understandable. This is important for visitors because it not only conveys historical information but also brings the question of decision-making spaces, complicity, and responsibility in everyday work to the forefront. ([topfundsoehne.de](https://www.topfundsoehne.de/ts/en/exhibitions/permanent_exhibitions/the_engineers/index.html))
In January, the permanent exhibition was renewed and reopened after four months of closure; it has been updated according to new research findings and supplemented by the multimedia installation 'Voices of the Survivors', in which reports from eight Auschwitz survivors can be heard. This gives the site a particularly immediate dimension, as historical documents and personal testimonies are connected. Outside, the outdoor exhibition 'In the Midst of Society. J. A. Topf & Sons and the Holocaust' complements the interior with information panels at key points on the grounds. Thus, the history of the former company headquarters is not only readable in the building but throughout the entire area. In addition, the exhibition 'Where Are You Taking Us? 'Euthanasia' Crimes in National Socialism' addresses the Nazi crimes against people with intellectual, mental, or physical disabilities, thus broadening the view beyond the history of the company to other contexts of persecution and murder. Currently, the memorial site also shows 'Pursuing and Clarifying. The First Generation of Holocaust Research' until May 17, 2027. This means that the house does not remain stuck in the past but connects historical documentation with the question of how the first researchers secured evidence and processed the Shoah after 1945. ([topfundsoehne.de](https://www.topfundsoehne.de/))
Opening Hours, Free Admission, Directions, and Parking
For visitors, the memorial site is pleasantly clearly organized. It is located at Sorbenweg 7 in 99099 Erfurt, open from Tuesday to Sunday between 10 AM and 6 PM; the house is closed on Mondays. Admission is free. Those arriving by public transport can take bus line 9 from the main train station towards Daberstedt to the Spielbergtor stop, and reach the entrance after about four minutes of walking. Alternatively, tram lines 3 and 4 stop at Robert-Koch-Straße, from where the walk takes about 15 minutes. The site is also reachable on foot from the main train station in about 15 minutes. By car, follow the B7 towards Weimar. There are parking spaces on site, and behind the house, there is a parking area designated for guests in wheelchairs. This combination of central location, clear signage, and free admission makes a visit uncomplicated and lowers the threshold for spontaneous as well as planned visits. This is particularly practical for locals, guests from Thuringia, or travelers who want to combine several places in Erfurt, as the memorial site can be integrated into a city visit without complicated logistics. ([topfundsoehne.de](https://www.topfundsoehne.de/ts/de/service/besucherservice/index.html))
It is also important that the memorial site is not designed for event operations but for education and remembrance. During special exhibitions, opening hours may be restricted due to educational use; then the visitor service refers to the central telephone number. This structure shows that the site does not operate according to commercial rhythms but according to content-related and educational planning. This is also relevant for SEO, as many search queries regarding opening hours, directions, and parking seek exactly this practical certainty: When can I come, how do I get there, and where do I park? The official information answers these questions very concretely. For groups, it is also possible to register in advance. This facilitates school trips, project days, and thematic excursions. Those who plan their visit well can connect the tour with the historical contextualization of the site and then complement it with the city center of Erfurt or other museums. Thus, a simple trip becomes a meaningful cultural and educational visit. ([topfundsoehne.de](https://www.topfundsoehne.de/ts/de/service/besucherservice/index.html))
Accessibility and Visitor Service
Accessibility is not a secondary issue here but part of the visitor concept. All floors are accessible, there is an elevator, a mobile ramp, and a restroom for wheelchair users on the ground floor. Access for wheelchair users is possible from the back of the house; from there, paved paths and a ramp lead to the side entrance. Assistance dogs are welcome, and guided tours in easy language can be offered upon prior arrangement. Additionally, the memorial site is certified according to the nationwide valid system 'Travel for All'. This is particularly helpful for families, groups with different needs, and people with disabilities, as planning becomes significantly easier in advance. The official visitor regulations and the clearly structured service page also show that the site actively accompanies visitors rather than just letting them in. For a memorial and educational institution, this is an important quality factor, as inclusive accessibility is now part of the educational mission. ([topfundsoehne.de](https://www.topfundsoehne.de/ts/de/service/besucherservice/index.html))
For groups, there are specific registration forms for school classes and other groups; the visitor service coordinates guided tours and seminars. The official contact structure is therefore not only aimed at individual visitors but explicitly at schools, associations, and training groups. This is particularly important when an excursion with an educational focus is planned, as it allows for the discussion of not only the visit but also the content and processes in advance. The website provides a fixed contact person in the visitor service, making it clear that the site functions more as a place of learning than as a casual sight. Those who integrate the memorial site into a larger visit to Erfurt also benefit from the short distances from the main train station and the explicit recommendation to use public transport. Thus, the site connects historical-moral depth with very useful, accessible visitor information. This is a clear advantage over many other cultural sites, especially for search queries regarding accessibility, admission, directions, or group service, as the practical orientation is already clearly formulated on the official page. ([topfundsoehne.de](https://www.topfundsoehne.de/ts/de/service/besucherservice/index.html))
Education, Library, Current Special Exhibitions as well as Photos and Media Library
As an extracurricular learning site, the memorial site is aimed at young people from the 9th grade onwards. The educational offerings range from dialogical guided tours through the exhibition to several-hour seminars. The content focuses on the company's involvement in the Nazi crimes, business relations with the SS, motives and options for action in everyday professional life, and the question of what responsibility can mean in technology, economy, and administration. The permanent exhibition is not only viewed but is repeatedly connected with questions about the present and personal attitudes. Additionally, the house collaborates with numerous schools and educational institutions in Erfurt and Thuringia and adapts its cooperations to the needs of the partners. This creates a place where historical education, political education, and ethical reflection intertwine. For search queries regarding programs, tours, seminars, or educational sites, this is central, as the memorial site not only shows but actively explains, structures, and deepens. ([topfundsoehne.de](https://www.topfundsoehne.de/mam/ts/aktuelles/2024/imagebroschure.pdf))
Additionally, a scientific reference library is available, which, according to the city of Erfurt, contains more than 3,300 books, magazines, and DVDs on National Socialism, Jewish history, memorial culture, industrial history, right-wing extremism, and related topics. The library is open from Tuesday to Friday from 10 AM to 6 PM and can be used by students, researchers, and participants in educational offerings. Those looking for photos, images, or press information will find a media library on the website with images, photos, videos, audios, speeches, press reviews, and publications. This makes the digital presence useful for people who want to research in advance, need material for teaching or reports, or simply want to get a sense of the atmosphere. Also, in reviews, the focus of the house is clearly recognizable: the official presence primarily emphasizes history, service information, and illustrative documentation; those seeking personal evaluations will find them more on external platforms. For the memorial site itself, it remains crucial that it makes historical facts visible, accessible, and understandable. So, for those looking for photos, images, or background knowledge, the official pages provide reliable materials without having to navigate through confusing event or ticket structures. ([erfurt.de](https://www.erfurt.de/ef/de/leben/bildung/bibliotheken/museen/117389.html?utm_source=openai))
Sources:
- Memorial Site Topf & Sons - Homepage ([topfundsoehne.de](https://www.topfundsoehne.de/))
- Topf & Sons - History of the Site ([topfundsoehne.de](https://www.topfundsoehne.de/ts/de/ort/chronik/index.html))
- Topf & Sons - Visitor Service ([topfundsoehne.de](https://www.topfundsoehne.de/ts/de/service/besucherservice/index.html))
- Topf & Sons - The Exhibition 'The Engineers of the Final Solution' ([topfundsoehne.de](https://www.topfundsoehne.de/ts/en/exhibitions/permanent_exhibitions/the_engineers/index.html))
- Erfurt.de - Memorial Site Topf & Sons ([erfurt.de](https://www.erfurt.de/ef/de/erleben/kunst/museen/128689.html))
Upcoming Events
Colorful as the Night – Long Night of Museums at the Memorial Site Topf & Söhne
A moving museum evening in Erfurt: Tour, Music, VR, and remembrance culture at the Memorial Site Topf & Söhne. 29.05.2026 from 5:30 PM. #Erfurt #MuseumNight
Crimes Against Humanity and Professional Life – Topf & Söhne and the Business Relations with the SS
An intense look at history, responsibility, and memory culture in Erfurt. Free tour on 31.05.2026 at 3 PM. #Erfurt #MemoryCulture
Frequently Asked Questions
Reviews
R. Witteveen
31. December 2023
Very impressive museum. Definitely not a 'fun' visit, but you will leave lost for words. Don't expect a lot of artifacts, but there's plenty to see and read. Most texts are also in English, but unfortunately the temporary exhibitions are German only. Free entrance.
Bjørn
11. September 2024
Feels difficult to say I "liked" the place as it tells a horrible story. That aside it's an important site to visit and the exhibitions are good and educational.
Stass Basankovich
20. January 2024
Informative museum about WW2.
Paulina Fuentes
27. December 2020
A good memorial to visit, the main exhibition is in German and English, the temporary ones (at least the ones I saw) only in German. Staff is very kind. It was a really heart touching and moving experience that makes you connect with your most humanitarian feelings.
Radu Pastiu
11. January 2026
Quite an experience. It definitely leaves a mark.