Resistance to National Socialism

German Resistance Memorial Centre

Opened in 1989, the permanent exhibition “Resistance to National Socialism” uses over 5,000 photographs and documents separated into 26 topics to document the entire broad and varied spectrum of the struggle against and opposition to National Socialism. The scope of the exhibition goes beyond just the political resistance to National Socialism. It also includes the varied forms of resistance based on Christian beliefs, the coup attempts by the military from 1938 to 1944, the active conspiracy on the part of key opponents of the regime who were close to the center of power, and also opposition by young people and individuals’ everyday forms of resistance during wartime. This involves depicting a variety of traditions and schools of thought as well as the situations and motives which brought forth and shaped resistance between 1933 and 1945.

The permanent exhibition in the Memorial Center is designed to offer the visitor access to the subject matter at varying levels of detail. An introductory text briefly familiarises the visitor with the specific topic; an outline uses exemplary photographs to give the visitor a quick overview of the respective exhibition’s focus. Pictures, texts, biographies and other materials are provided in folders for visitors desiring more in-depth information. The result is a multifaceted portrayal of the goals and forms of resistance to National Socialism.

Exhibition Areas

1. Introduction
2. The Republic Destroyed
3. National Socialism
4. Resistance from the Labor Movement up to 1939
5. Resisting on the Basis of Christian Beliefs up to 1939
6. Resisting in the Arts and Sciences
7. Exile and Resistance
8. Resisting on the Basis of Liberal and Conservative Traditions
9. Beginnings of the Military Conspiracy
10. From Criticism to Planning a Coup
11. Plans for a Coup 1938-1943. Georg Elser and the Assassination Attempt of November 8, 1939
12. Stauffenberg and the Assassination Attempt of July 20, 1944
13. Plans for a Government
14. The Failure of the Coup
15. The Kreisau Circle
16. The White Rose
17. The Red Orchestra
18. Youth Opposition
19. Resistance in Daily Life during the War
20. The Struggle of Prisoners of War/National Committee „Free Germany“
21. Resistance by Jews
22. Aid for the Persecuted
23. Resistance by Prisoners / Resistance by Sinti and Roma
24. Resisting on the Basis of Christian Beliefs after 1939
25. Working Class Resistance after 1939
26. Resistance and the Lawless State

for more information:
https://www.orte-der-erinnerung.de/en/institutions-2/