Yad Vashem comes to Leipzig and Munich – and East Germany warns of a structural loss of connection

The Israeli Holocaust memorial Yad Vashem wants to expand its educational work in Germany and establish new contact points in Munich and Leipzig. At the same time, an analysis by the Dresden ifo Institute paints a picture that goes beyond a cyclical snapshot: East Germany could fall behind in the competition – especially where private investment is needed and where companies lack skilled workers.

Yad Vashem: Educational work without eyewitnesses moves to the center

Yad Vashem announced that it will be present in Germany in the future with locations in Munich and Leipzig. Munich is to serve as the main location for a new education center. In Leipzig, a branch is planned in the Ariowitsch House, which is particularly aimed at educators – an indication that Yad Vashem wants to have a greater impact through multipliers: through schools, training courses, and institutions that bring historical education into everyday life.

The chairman of Yad Vashem, Dani Dayan, justified the step with a turning point that fundamentally changes remembrance work: The era of eyewitnesses is coming to an end. Precisely for this reason, historically based Holocaust education must be strengthened. According to the logic of this reasoning, the expansion in Germany is not only organizational. It aims to consolidate teaching methods – that is, to anchor content, source work, and didactic concepts in such a way that they remain viable even without personal testimonies.

Saxony's Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer spoke of a great honor and at the same time an obligation in connection with the location decision. Politically, this is a double message: recognition for the institution – and the demand that educational and remembrance work be taken seriously and practically supported on a permanent basis.

ifo Dresden: When private investments are lacking, the gap is hard to close

While Yad Vashem focuses on education and remembrance, the ifo Institute Dresden describes the economic situation in East Germany from a different perspective: In a report titled "Competitiveness Report East Germany 2026," the researchers warn that East Germany could lose its connection. Two main obstacles are cited, which reinforce each other:

• too little private investment
• lack of skilled workers

This diagnosis becomes particularly clear in terms of the investment gap. According to the report, private investments – excluding residential construction and public infrastructure – are only about two-thirds of the West German level. Even if government programs can provide short-term support, the core problem remains: Where companies invest less, new capacities, innovations, and well-paid jobs are less likely to emerge. And where skilled workers are lacking, investments often do not pay off or are postponed. This is the mechanism that can turn a gap into a permanent divide.

For the political debate, this means: It is not enough to rely solely on public funding. What matters is whether private funds can be mobilized – and whether regions are attractive enough to attract or retain skilled workers. Both, in turn, depend on factors such as planning security, location costs, educational and childcare offerings, and infrastructure that actually enables companies to grow.

Other developments: Pressure on social budgets, foreign policy tensions, relief on the rails

In addition to the two main topics, other reports shaped the news situation:

Rising spending on social benefits

The Federal Statistical Office reported rising spending on social benefits in municipal budgets: For 2025, core and special municipal budgets spent 90.0 billion euros – an increase of 5.9 percent compared to 2024. Such increases are more than just accounting figures: They narrow the scope for action locally, for example for investments, and intensify goal conflicts between social security and future spending.

Accusations between Iran and the USA

In foreign policy, there were mutual accusations between Iran and the USA. Tehran condemned new US attacks and announced a response within the framework of the right to self-defense; the Pentagon said the target was a military position that posed a threat to US forces. The core remains: Both sides present their actions as defensive – the risk of further escalation arises precisely from this logic of justification.

Relief on the rails

Domestically, Deutsche Bahn reported that the disruption on the Hamburg–Berlin route had been resolved; traffic is running again, even if there may still be occasional delays and cancellations.

Thus, very different lines come together in one day:

• Expansion of historical-political education by Yad Vashem
• ifo warning of structural competitive disadvantages in the East
• increasing pressure on municipal social budgets
• international tensions

The diagnosis from Dresden remains the most tangible: Without more private investment and without skilled workers, a gap threatens to become a permanent divide.