By State Chancellery Saarland
Staatskanzlei des Saarlandes, Öffentlichkeitsarbeit
The last shift
Even though final withdrawal from coal mining around the Saar had been prepared by the RAG for a considerable time and every employee, both male and female, had already known for years beforehand that their professional situation would change on 30th June 2012, the finality of the decision only became clear to many on the day of farewell. As the final culminating point of the ceremony on 30th June, the foreman Stefan Busch as the last miner handed over a lump of coal to a member of the board of directors of the RAG. There was hardly a dry eye among the thousand visitors as he ended his short speech with the words: „coal mining around the Saar is over. Good luck“.
Miners' band during the farewell ceremony of the RAG at the Saar mine. by Staatskanzlei des Saarlandes Open GalleryState Chancellery Saarland
Delivery of the last piece of coal obtained from Saar mining by the last miner. by Staatskanzlei des Saarlandes Open GalleryState Chancellery Saarland
Synchronous ringing of the bells by Staatskanzlei des Saarlandes Open GalleryState Chancellery Saarland
Last miner's gear by RAG, Saarbrücken and Staatskanzlei des Saarlandes Open GalleryState Chancellery Saarland
Farewell speech by Stefan Busch by RAG, Saarbrücken and Staatskanzlei des Saarlandes Open GalleryState Chancellery Saarland
Last piece of Saar coal by RAG, Saarbrücken and Staatskanzlei des Saarlandes Open GalleryState Chancellery Saarland
Unter dem Glassturz liegt die letzte geförderte Kohle des Saarbergbaus vom 30. Juni 2012.
Bishop Stephan Ackermann and Auxiliary Bishop Robert Brahm of Trier as well as Barbara Rudolph of the Oberkirchenrat of the Evangelische Landeskirche of the Rheinland and Gottfried Müller of the Oberkirchenrat of the Evangelische Kirche of the Palatinate rendered spiritual aid to the "Mettenschicht" on 30 June 2012. by Staatskanzlei des Saarlandes Open GalleryState Chancellery Saarland
The almost 90 meter high winding tower above shaft IV has become a symbol of the structural changes in the Saarland mining region. by Staatskanzlei des Saarlandes Open GalleryState Chancellery Saarland
The highest mining heap of the Saar is located at the Ensdorf mine. The so-called "Saarpolygon" located at its plateau is intended to remind of the 250 years of mining operations in the Saarland. by Staatskanzlei des Saarlandes Open GalleryState Chancellery Saarland
Residential building with damage resulting from mining operations in the Sulzbachtal, 1960s by Staatskanzlei des Saarlandes Open GalleryState Chancellery Saarland
Panorama of the solar power plant of Göttelborn between the Weiher power plant and the former Verbundbergwerk Ost (amalgamated mine) by Staatskanzlei des Saarlandes Open GalleryState Chancellery Saarland
The visitor's centre of "Industriekultur Saar" on the premises of the former mine in Göttelborn by Staatskanzlei des Saarlandes Open GalleryState Chancellery Saarland
Silhouette of the "Alte Völklinger Hütte", a World Heritage Site by Staatskanzlei des Saarlandes Open GalleryState Chancellery Saarland
The winding tower of the Alsbachschacht belonging to the former Luisenthal mine located on the premises of the "IT-Park Saar" provides a reminder of the industrial past of the location. by Staatskanzlei des Saarlandes Open GalleryState Chancellery Saarland
Ensdorf, Duhamel heap, direction southwest, 31 October 2012, 12:30 pm by Staatskanzlei des Saarlandes Open GalleryState Chancellery Saarland
Eternities
According to information from the RAG, some 1.5 billion tons of coal were extracted during the 250 years of mining on the Saarland coalfields. In the process, cavities resulting collapsed and resulted in subsidence in many places. Damaged or destroyed buildings and likewise changes in the landscape are possible consequences. The soils contaminated by coking plants represent another impairment. In order to meet these challenges, the RAG foundation was created, which in addition to dealing with permanent subsidence and the „eternally“ necessary dewatering, also ensures among other aspects rehabilitation of large areas and retirement provision for miners.
Frozen tailings basin of the Reden pit, January 1963 by Staatskanzlei des Saarlandes Open GalleryState Chancellery Saarland
Lopsided houses in the Sulzbachtal, which was heavily affected by mining operations, 1960s by Staatskanzlei des Saarlandes Open GalleryState Chancellery Saarland
A house in Friedrichsthal has to be supported due to mining damage, May 1962 by Staatskanzlei des Saarlandes Open GalleryState Chancellery Saarland
House damaged by mining operations by RAG Bildarchiv, Saarbrücken and Staatskanzlei des Saarlandes Open GalleryState Chancellery Saarland
Fracture gap by RAG Bildarchiv, Saarbrücken and Staatskanzlei des Saarlandes Open GalleryState Chancellery Saarland
Houses with mining damage by Landesbildstelle Saarland im LPM and Staatskanzlei des Saarlandes Open GalleryState Chancellery Saarland
Houses with mining damage by Landesbildstelle Saarland im LPM and Staatskanzlei des Saarlandes Open GalleryState Chancellery Saarland
House with mining damage by Landesbildstelle Saarland im LPM and Staatskanzlei des Saarlandes Open GalleryState Chancellery Saarland
The miners' bands by Historisches Museum Saar and Staatskanzlei des Saarlandes Open GalleryState Chancellery Saarland
Aerial photographies of heaps and tailings basins Aerial photographies of heaps and tailings basins by Staatskanzlei des Saarlandes Open GalleryState Chancellery Saarland
Rubble and debris by Historisches Museum Saar and Staatskanzlei des Saarlandes Open GalleryState Chancellery Saarland
Landscape
The growth of the coal and steel industry during the 19th century transformed the face of the landscape of the Saarland. Extensive open-cast mines often exceeded the adjacent settlements in size, settling ponds and slag heaps shaped the environment. Since the 1960‘s programmes for redevelopment and recultivation of mining areas have emerged, increasingly developed according to ecological standpoints. Between 1960 and 1980, around 850 hectares of new wooded lands were planted based on a recultivation plan of Saarbergwerke AG. This impressive change in the countryside will be clearly visible within a few years by comparison of old and new aerial photographs of Saarland mine locations.
Spoil piling around 1950 by Staatskanzlei des Saarlandes Open GalleryState Chancellery Saarland
The Fischbachtal prior and during the creation of tailings basins around 1950 The Fischbachtal prior and during the creation of tailings basins around 1950 by Staatskanzlei des Saarlandes Open GalleryState Chancellery Saarland
"Life in the coal district" – Picnic at the Duhamel heap near Ensdorf by Staatskanzlei des Saarlandes Open GalleryState Chancellery Saarland
The "Saarpolygon" – Tradition and future (design by Katja Pfeiffer/Oliver Sachse) by Staatskanzlei des Saarlandes Open GalleryState Chancellery Saarland
The Grühlingstraße heap with summit cross by Staatskanzlei des Saarlandes Open GalleryState Chancellery Saarland
Reden and Heinitz over the years Reden and Heinitz over the years by Landesamt für Kataster-, Vermessungsund Kartenwesen (LKVK), Saarbrücken and Staatskanzlei des Saarlandes Open GalleryState Chancellery Saarland
Aerial photographies of mining locations Aerial photographies of mining locations by Pasquale D’Angiolillo, Gunther Kopp and Staatskanzlei des Saarlandes Open GalleryState Chancellery Saarland
Historical aerial photographies Historical aerial photographies by Bernd Speicher, Bous and Staatskanzlei des Saarlandes Open GalleryState Chancellery Saarland
Heinitz - Veränderung des Grubenstandortes 1953-2012State Chancellery Saarland
These aerial photographies of the last 60 years document the changes to the Heinitz and Reden mining sites. While both locations were still heavily influenced by coal mining during the 1950s, the environments both changed very differently after the closing of both mines (Heinitz: 1962, Reden: 2000). The newest photos from 2012 show that there is practically no trace of the old usage of the Heinitz location. In contrast, the premises of the former Reden mine have been developed for tourism purposes and thereby preserved for future generations.
Reden - Veränderung des Grubenstandortes 1953-2012State Chancellery Saarland
These aerial photographies of the last 60 years document the changes to the Heinitz and Reden mining sites. While both locations were still heavily influenced by coal mining during the 1950s, the environments both changed very differently after the closing of both mines (Heinitz: 1962, Reden: 2000). The newest photos from 2012 show that there is practically no trace of the old usage of the Heinitz location. In contrast, the premises of the former Reden mine have been developed for tourism purposes and thereby preserved for future generations.
