An Introduction to Munich’s NS-Dokumentationszentrum München Museum
The modern, clinical NS-Dokumentationzentrum, which is surrounded by ornate Neo-Classical buildings, is a reminder of a part of Munich’s past that the city often tries to forget. This museum is about more than just a collection of Nazi documents. It is about the history of anti-Semitism and racism and the many ways they can show up. And it seems too familiar and important to be true.
What’s the difference between racism and being against Jews? By looking at Munich’s history as the center of the Nazi movement, the NS-Dokumentationzentrum tries to answer big questions like this across its four floors. It puts an event that is often talked about as a tragedy in its proper place. Instead of showing it as history, the museum connects what happened in the past to what is happening now.
Inside, there are white walls and a quiet, library-like atmosphere. Small groups of adults slowly move from one exhibit to the next. It’s mostly text-based exhibits, so much so that there are reading stools to save your legs. Make sure to use one, because you’ll probably spend more time here than you planned. Visitors can stay until 7 p.m.
It is in the historic museum district of Munich, which is a much more important place for it to be than just a stop on the tourist trail. Today, Konigsplatz is one of the most visited and photographed places in the city. However, at the beginning of the 20th century, it was the “Forum of the Movement,” a place where Nazi power was shown.
No matter how much you think you know about this time, the different documents and details will teach you something new. The exhibits are set up in order of when they were made, from the top floor down. They are in both German and perfect English translation, which is hard to find in Munich museums. If you don’t have much time, it will take you about an hour and a half to two hours to follow just the vertical black panels. There are more documents that talk about lit table displays in more depth.
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Even though English tours can be taken online or with a tour guide, they repeat a lot of what is written and can take up to four hours. When there are written displays, it’s easier to move around at your own pace and stop to think about what you’re reading. If you want to learn more about a certain topic, you can also go to the learning center and library in the basement.
It is so blunt that it hurts. From the life-size photos of hanged men and women who were killed to the constant reminder that the people of Munich knew what was going on and helped, this is a place that makes you think and sometimes makes it hard to keep reading. This is not a place for kids.
This is not just a place where old things are kept. Concerningly, references to the “lying press” (lügenpresse) seem to be common, and the special exhibition floor shows that anti-Semitic and right-wing views are still strong in modern Germany. It is a plea to Munich and the rest of the world to learn from the past so that such horrible things don’t happen again. It’s worth going there.
Topic: An Introduction to Munich’s NS-Dokumentationszentrum München Museum
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