Plans for a Documentation Centre for the History of National Socialism
At the instigation of the American military government after liberation, National Socialist symbols of authority like swastikas and the Third Reich's imperial eagle were removed together with examples of specifically Nazi architecture. In 1947, the debate about dealing with the Nazi era in an adequate way was sharpened by the demolition of the 'Temples of Honour’ at Königsplatz square.
Since directly after the war, there have been suggestions for establishing some form of commemorative and educational facility to confront the city's Nazi record. In 1989, the City Council pressed for the construction at the junction of Brienner Strasse and Arcisstrasse of a 'House of Contemporary History' on the premises of the 'Brown House,' which formerly housed the Reich leadership of the Nazi Party, but the plan was not followed up on.
Since the beginning of the 1990s, the City of Munich has led the way in commemorative work by putting on a variety of exhibitions and events. To reinforce this, the City authority also supports commemorative work at local historical sites and civil initiatives. Moreover, there has since 2003 been a separate department in the Munich City Museum given over to the role played in Munich’s history by the Nazi era; from June 2008, as part of a new permanent exhibition, the rise and rule of National Socialism in Munich is also presented.
In 2001, the City of Munich passed a framework resolution to go ahead with founding a Documentation Centre for the History of National Socialism. The Free State of Bavaria followed suit six months later. Since then, four symposia have taken place with the general public participating. Since 2003, the City Council has provided considerable funds to support each stage of the project. Since 2005, three technical bodies (a board of trustees, an academic and a political advisory board) have been busy preparing the way for the establishment of the Munich Documentation and Education Centre for the History of National Socialism.
As a location for the Documentation Centre for the History of National Socialism, the Free State of Bavaria provided the premises of the former 'Brown House' at the end of 2005. A new building for the Documentation Centre will be constructed starting from 2011. The opening is scheduled for the end of 2013.
With this step, a major place of learning and commemoration will be created which, as part of a nationwide network, shall encourage an innovative and instructive confrontation with the history and aftermath of the National Socialism and enable historical-political civic education geared to the future at a historical site. A key task in achieving this objective will be to integrate the topography of the former Party quarter around Königsplatz square into the conception and work of the Documentation Centre.
