was geschehen und nie geschehen ist

In the GDR, several hundred to several thousand children (the figure varies depending on the source) were separated from their parents and put up for adoption. The actual number is unknown to the present day. The family code of the GDR stipulated that parents should raise their children "to be active builders of socialism". They had to "respect labour", "love the Soviet Union" and "defend the borders—by force of arms if necessary". If parents failed to follow these guidelines, the state had the power to revoke their right to raise their children. The issue of forced adoption remains controversial to this day, and the process of coming to terms with GDR injustice is ongoing.
Was geschehen und nie geschehen ist (what happened and never happened) is a photographic-documentary exploration of the topic by photographers Paulina Metzscher and Amelie Sachs, together with the author and filmmaker Eva Gemmer. In it, they address the family histories of those affected in. What is left behind? Grief? Loss? Hope? The publication combines a selection of artistic photographs and archive material with factual and poetic texts.