Exhibition

„Former Jewish-owned property“- this note found in the files triggered a systematic investigation by the Münchner Stadtmuseum into the provenance of the works of art contained in its own collections. For the very first time, its research findings beteween 2011 und 2015 were presented to the public and shine a light on our museum's own particular history during the Nazi era.

The exhibition offered a snapshot or our investigations to date. It traced the biographies of items from the Museum's verious collections, covering fields as varied as graphics and painting, fashion and textiles, artisan craftwork and furniture, musical instruments, and puppets.

The sheer diversity of these collections is evidence of the full extent of the Nazi plunder, which permeated every area of public and private life. Sometimes even the less-well-known but often deeply personal works of art and cultural objects fell victim to the Nazi policies of persecution and expropriation.

The repression and state-sponsored confiscation of property practiced by the Nazis also targeted the „little people“ - Jewish artis, businessmen, private individuals and political opponents of the regime who are all but forgotten today. Among other things the fate of the families Helbing, Lämmle, Bernheimer, Rothschild, Hackelsberger, Schülein and Kohn was presented. The exhibition aims to acknowledge these mostly unknown people and their commitment to Munich's cultural life.