The existence of authentic objects helps remembrance and debate. In case of national-socialist relicts bare presence isn't enough!
Next to the "Haus der Kunst" in Munich - place of the exhibition "no. 250. eine ausstellung" by H&dM - there's another building dating of the national-socialist regime: the former headquarter of air raid defence ("Luftgaukommando"). In contrast to the "Haus der Kunst" there is no information on site about the history of the building, even worse: national-socialist figures and ornaments are maintained all over the facade.
It's well known that there hasn't been the "big change" in mind in 1945; obviously in Munich people still feel comfortable with their NS-relicts - there are plenty. Of course it was quite practical to reuse NS-architecture after the war. Since may 1945 the former headquarter of air raid defence houses the Bavarian ministry of economy, infrastructure, traffic and technology.
In 1978 the 250 m long building got restored: steel helmets above windows lovingly got protected from bird-excrements, not even the swastikas, part of window decorations, were removed. Argument of the responsible department: "the swastika-ornament used in secondary location and not precisely modelled shows the human idol behind it".
The Bavarian ministry informs on its website about the "spectacular building constructed between 1936 and 1938" with no further comment on its past and current perception.
What's wrong about pigeon-guano on top of Nazi-relicts?
Text: Ute Bauer