The Worldtree Yggdrasil or the search for a lost memory

After 1945, shacks of a former Nazi ammunition factory in North Rhine-Westphalia were repurposed as a refugee settlement, which eventually grew into the town of Espelkamp. Though refugees initially faced suspicion and hostility, they played a key role in rebuilding post-war Germany and helped turn the town into a symbol of successful integration.

Today, Espelkamp is again shaped by migration, as people fleeing war and instability seek safety there. Yet this has brought renewed tensions, including attacks on shelters, far-right graffiti, and rising support for the AfD, reflecting a resurgence of old prejudices. Espelkamp’s story feels like history repeating itself. Once a symbol of integration, it now faces familiar divisions and xenophobia. Its trajectory reflects how extremist ideas persist and resurface across generations.

„Where there is a will…“ captures this unsettling continuity, transforming the town into a metaphorical canvas on the verge of being set aflame.