In the morning there was a press conference and various guests were invited for the official opening ceremony starting 5 p.m.. In addition to Dresden's notabilities there were of course the men of action, several professors of the Technical University of Dresden (some of them retired), and Tatra-Friends of Saxony, e.g. Thomas Gabel, Andreas Christel, or more distant like Gabor Szerencsi and Roland Henkel. And not to forget Hanne Mader, grandchild of Hans Ledwinka, was to welcome as the very special guest.
Matthias Stier, director of Verkehrsmusuem since 2010, inaugurated the event with his greetings to all guests and guests of honour. Thereafter Radim Zatopek gave an intro into the history of Tatra and presented the actual product line of commercial vehicles by a movie.

Mrs. Mader held the next speech and reported vividly her reminiscence of her grandfather. She described him as an amiable person who enjoyed the moments in the circle of his family but also was always willing to listen the ideas and problems of his employees. The fortunes of the Tatra factory always were very near to his heart. Dresden is connected by Hanne Mader to some of her best childhood memories as far as her father, Fritz Ledwinka, had been conductor of the Tatra sales office in Dresden and her family had their home in Sedanstraße (nowadays Hochschulstraße) for some years.

Thomas Giesel, curator of the Verkehrsmuseum Dresden, gave a overview of the Czech automobile and motor-bike production before and between the World Wars and introduced several car brands and bodywork companies. So e.g he talked about the Reichenberger (nowadays Liberec) Automobil Fabrik of Theodor Freiherr von Liebieg, which later merged with Laurin & Klement. Many constructions of L&K based on earlier RAF constructions. Or - on the motor cycle sector - the Janaček Company, which bought the licence for the cycle production from Wanderer in Chemnitz and was renamed into Jawa (Janček + Wanderer). Thereupon Wanderer stopped its production of motor cycles. Out of the bodywork companies he highlighted in particular Sodomka, which he compared in its significance with Gläser in Dresden. In the end Mr. Griesel brought out the long-time tradition of Czech automotive engineering that continues in Skoda and still in Tatra. Also he thanked Roland Henkel who supported the mostly of wall charts composed exhibition by numerous exhibits of his own private collection.

Finally the exhibition was declared open and the attendant crowd proceeded to the show rooms. Glasses of sparkling wine were served for a welcome and some snacks as refreshments. Now you could re slander through the exposition relaxed, buy a booklet of the exhibition or have a conversation with one or the other guest.

Whoever plans to visit Dresden – here are the dates on which Thomas Giesel will guide competently through the exhibition : 7th of February, 23rd and 28th of March and 18th of April 2010; start 11:00 a.m. at the Verkehrsmuseum Dresden