Prof. Dr Dr h.c. mult. Carl Horst Hahn
Programme for the 100th birthday of the honorary citizen of Chemnitz
Chemnitz is commemorating its honorary citizen Prof. Dr Carl Horst Hahn, one of the most important entrepreneurs in German automotive history, with numerous events on the occasion of his 100th birthday on 1 July.
The accompanying programme combines automotive history, culture and personal memories and invites visitors to rediscover the life's work of Prof. Dr Carl Horst Hahn and the history of Chemnitz as an automotive location.
You can find a review of the celebrations further down this page. Exhibitions, guided tours and a lecture invite you to find out more about Carl H. Hahn until 16 August 2026. You can find all the details in the blue box.
You can find more information about Carl H. Hahn in the brochure available for download:
Honorary citizen Carl H. Hahn
The long-standing VW manager Carl Horst Hahn was born in Chemnitz on 1 July 1926.
The city of Chemnitz made him an honorary citizen on 9 June 1994.
moreExhibitions
3 July to 14 August 2026
“Carl H. Hahn (1926 – 2023) – How he shaped Chemnitz and Saxony”
The exhibition combines personal insights into the life of Prof. Dr Carl Horst Hahn with the history of the Chemnitz mobility region and the transformation of the automotive industry.
The exhibition is complemented by artistic works by the Urban Sketchers Chemnitz.
> More about the exhibition
Town Hall, Markt 1, 09111 Chemnitz | Free admission
Opening hours:
Monday to Thursday: 8 am to 6 pm
Friday: 8 am to 4 pm
4 July to 16 August 2026
“Maschinen Minis – Your invention, your workshop!”
Interactive, hands-on exhibition for children and families focusing on technology, creativity and invention
> Find out more about the hands-on programme
Chemnitz Industrial Museum, Zwickauer Straße 119, 09112 Chemnitz
Opening hours:
Tuesday to Friday: 9 am to 5 pm
Saturday, Sunday: 10 am to 5 pm
Monday: closed
Guided tours
1st, 10th, 15th and 17th July 2026
Visit to the VW engine plant
Chemnitz engine plant, Kauffahrtei 47, 09120 Chemnitz | admission free
Start: 2 p.m.
Duration: approx. 1.5 to 2 hours
Age: from 6 years
Number of participants: max. 15
Registration required at besucherservice.chemnitz(at)volkswagen.de
“The long and rich history of Chemnitz as a centre of the automotive industry is inextricably linked with the name Carl Horst Hahn. For him, entrepreneurial success always went hand in hand with responsibility, down-to-earthness and a clear vision for the future. Born in Chemnitz, he remained closely connected to his home town throughout his life. His work as an entrepreneur, visionary and patron not only shaped the international automotive industry, but also played a decisive role in Saxony’s development and the creation of thousands of jobs following German reunification. That is why the memory of figures such as Carl H. Hahn is of great significance to our city. It highlights just how closely history, economic development and social commitment are intertwined.
A special musical performance by the children’s choir of the Saxony International School Carl Hahn, as well as the ceremonial signing of the Golden Book of the City of Chemnitz by the Hahn family, provided a fitting backdrop to the reception.
Following the reception, the exhibition ‘Carl H. Hahn (1926–2023) – How he shaped Chemnitz and Saxony’ was opened at Chemnitz Town Hall.
The exhibition combines personal insights into the life of Carl H. Hahn with the history of the Chemnitz mobility region and the transformation of the automotive industry. It is complemented by artistic works by the Urban Sketchers Chemnitz, as well as a Trabant 1.1 with a four-stroke VW engine, which was driven to the Town Hall especially for the occasion.
The exhibition was curated by the Chemnitz Industrial Museum in collaboration with the Museum of Saxon Vehicles.
The exhibition in the Town Hall’s exhibition space is on display from 3 July until 14 August 2026 during Town Hall opening hours, Markt 1 (Mondays to Thursdays from 8 am to 6 pm, Fridays from 8 am to 4 pm). Admission is free. Sachsen Fernsehen - Carl Hahn’s legacy and the Trabant’s journey to the Town Hall
A Trabant at the Town Hall – Carl Horst Hahn Exhibition
A classic car parade, organised by the 1st Chemnitz Beetle Club “Ferdinands Erben”, took place on Neumarkt to commemorate the rich tradition of Chemnitz’s automotive industry and highlight the city’s close ties to the development of car manufacturing. Accompanied by the classic car parade, the Hahn family and many other guests of honour travelled in the historic vehicles from the Town Hall to St Peter’s Church on Theaterplatz.
A gala concert by the Chemnitz Baroque Orchestra, featuring Steffen Walther on the Ladegast-Jehmlich organ, took place in the church where Carl Horst Hahn was baptised. The preservation of the organ is largely thanks to the commitment of Carl Horst Hahn. The concert was a joint event organised by the Saxon Mozart Society (Sächsische Mozart-Gesellschaft e. V.) and the City of Chemnitz, with the kind support of the St Petri Castle Parish.
Sachsen Fernsehen: Traces of a Visionary
MDR Sachsenspiegel: Manager – Visionary – Bridge-builder – Chemnitz honours Hahn
Classic Car Parade & Concert at St Peter’s Church
The highlight of the celebrations was the opening of the Carl-Horst-Hahn Garden in Chemnitz’s Stadtpark (Händelstraße/Schumannstraße). The newly landscaped garden is situated in a place closely linked to Carl Horst Hahn’s childhood and youth. It was from here, near his family’s villa, that he would enter the Stadtpark. The redevelopment of this area has not only preserved a piece of the city’s history, but also created a permanent memorial dedicated to an honorary citizen who had a lasting influence on the development of his home town.
Sachsen Fernsehen - Minister-President inaugurates the Carl-Horst-Hahn Garden
Exhibitions & Art in Public Spaces
The exhibition “Maschinen Minis – Your Invention, Your Workshop!” was also designed to inspire children and families in particular to take an interest in technology, creativity and innovation. As part of this programme, visitors were also able to reflect on the values that were important to Carl H. Hahn throughout his life, such as education, curiosity and a forward-looking approach. https://www.industriemuseum-chemnitz.de/ausstellung/maschinen-minis-344
A lasting tribute has been created at the Volkswagen engine plant in Chemnitz: As part of the HALLENKUNST Mural Art Programme, a mural will serve as a permanent tribute to Carl Horst Hahn and his contributions to the Volkswagen Group, Chemnitz as an automotive hub and the development of the region. This gives his legacy a prominent place at a site closely linked to the history of automotive manufacturing in Saxony. The artwork was created by the renowned Polish artist Mariusz Waras, also known as M-City. M-City, who now teaches as a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk and has created over 700 murals in cities such as Berlin, Paris, São Paulo, London and Prague, is regarded as the ideal artist for this historic site. His art is deeply rooted in the aesthetics of industrialisation; having grown up amidst industrial landscapes, Waras understands the vibrant inner workings and dynamics of production sites like no other.