Berlin 1937. In the shadow of tomorrow

About

By 1937, the National Socialist dictatorship had permeated every aspect of German everyday life. The previous year had been shaped by the Wehrmacht’s invasion of the demilitarised Rhineland and by the Olympic Games. Soon to follow were the “Anschluss” of Austria, the Sudeten crisis and the November pogroms. 1937, however, was characterised by a false sense of calm in Germany – including Berlin.

What was the city like for its residents as they went from their homes to school or to work, to the church or to the synagogue, to air raid exercises or to dance? What changed under Nazi rule; what stayed the same? What were the consequences for individuals and for societal groups? And: To what degree was it possible to recognise the system’s criminal nature before the war and the Holocaust began?

A collection of unique, never-before displayed original objects, historical photos, documents, sound recordings and film excerpts demonstrates the deceptive normality under the Nazi regime. The exhibition takes a multi-media approach to give deep insights into life in the city at that time from a broad range of perspectives.