The opening of the educational exhibition „Karl Plagge – Righteous Among the Nations“ took place at  the Centre of Tolerance of Vilna Gaon Jewish State Museum on the 7th of April, 2009. This exhibition is dedicated to the memory of Karl Plagge and to the victims and survivors of the Holocaust in Lithuania. 

The exhibition „Karl Plagge – Righteous Among the Nations“ travelled here from Germany, Darmstadt History workshop. The English edition of the exhibition was funded by the Foundation Rememberance, Responsibility and Future, Berlin (Stiftung “Erinnerung, Verantwortung und Zukunft”). Hannerole Skroblies and Christoph Jetter, members of Darmstadt History workshop, put a lot of efforts to make this exhibition happen and be transported to Lithuania, and participated at the opening as well.

The attendance were greeted by Rachel Kostanian, deputy director, and Ieva Sadzeviciene, the Head of the Tolerance Centre. Rachel Kostanian remembered the input of the museum: many historical facts about major Plagge were discovered with the help of the employees of Vilna Gaon Jewish State Museum, and particularly Irina Guzenberg, the Head of the Public Relation, History and Publishing Department. Karl Plagge was a Major in the German Wehrmacht and was given command of the vehicle repair unit (HKP Ost/562) in Olandu Street in Vilnius from 1941 to 1944. Polish workers and numerous Ghetto prisoners were employed as forced laborers at the HKP. Karl Plagge was awarded the honorary title “Righteous Among the Nations” by the Israeli Holocaust Memorial Yad Vashem in 2005, for his part in saving the lives of over 250 Jews in Vilnius.
	Ieva Šadzevičienė emphasized that this exhibiton about Karl Plagge is being exhibited in the Tolerance Centre alongside the works of the world–known artist Samuel Bak, who was one of the Jewish children who’s  life  was saved by Karl Plagge.
Christoph Jetter also delivered a speech and talked about the origins and further plans of this exhibition.

The Ambassador of Germany Hans Peter Annen, the Ambassador of Ireland Donal Denham, the Ambassador of Republic of Bulgaria Ivan Dantchev, the Ambassador of the Republic of Hungary Peter Noszko-Horvath, the Ambassador of the Repulic of Latvia Hardijs Baumanis, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Annemieke Ruigork and other honorable guests were participating at this opening.  

The exhibition „Karl Plagge – Righteous Among the Nations“ began it‘s travel to the schools of Lithuania. It will be included into the development of the programs of the Tolerance centres across the country. 

Photographer P. Račiūnas