Exhibition on Right-Wing Terrorism: Remember to Protect!

Exhibition on Right-Wing Terrorism: Remember to Protect!

Today's opening of the exhibition "Right-Wing Terrorism. Conspiracy and Self-Empowerment from 1945 to Today" in Hemauer Zehntstadel is accompanied by an important message. The aim of this exhibition is to show compassion, protect the general public and raise warning signals. Dr. Astrid Betz, the curator, emphasizes that the Nazis' inhumane ideology has been imitated in various forms since 1945. The exhibition, which was developed by the Memorium Nuremberg Trials, was presented for the first time in the NS Documentation Center in Munich in the summer of 2024 and highlights twenty cases of right-wing terrorist violence from the perspective of the victims.

As part of the exhibition, visitors can view various exhibits, including a replica of a wastebasket from the 1980 Oktoberfest attack and an original door frame from the synagogue in Halle. Particular attention is paid to video and audio stations that document actions, backgrounds and reactions. Video footage from a commemoration of the Christchurch attack shows young people paying tribute to the victims. The managing director of the vhs Regensburger Land, Roswitha Hierl, emphasizes the central importance of historical awareness, while district administrator Tanja Schweiger emphasizes the importance of a culture of remembrance and open communication.

Remembering right-wing extremist violence

The exhibition is part of a broader discussion about collective memory in Germany, which often excludes certain events. According to information from bpb.de, awareness of right-wing extremist violence has never disappeared in Germany, but has long been ignored in the culture of remembrance. The first discussions about German guilt and responsibility only began in the 1970s and 80s, increasingly demanded by civil society initiatives and those affected.

Examples of right-wing extremist violence that could also be addressed in the exhibition include the attacks in Solingen - in which five women and girls were murdered in 1993 - and the series of murders by the National Socialist Underground (NSU), which revealed an incredible failure of the security authorities. The attack in Hanau in 2020, in which Tobias R. shot nine people with a migration background, is another tragic example that underlines the need for an open confrontation with right-wing extremist shadows in German society.

Social awareness and study results

A current study by ZDF.de shows that there is growing interest in one's own history. 42.8% of respondents have a strong interest in history, but at the same time there are gaps in their knowledge about the crimes of National Socialism. Only a third can explain the term “euthanasia” in the Nazi context. This discrepancy between interest and knowledge is worrying and reflects an insufficient examination of the past.

The study also shows that 63.8% of those surveyed see right-wing extremism as a major or very major threat to society. Nevertheless, only just under 8% are actually involved in remembering the Nazi era. It is crucial that the integration of those affected' perspectives into the culture of remembrance is further promoted in order to create a complete and inclusive narrative about the German stories of violence, as bpb.de reports.

The exhibition in Hemau runs until January 29, 2026 and also offers free lectures and workshops to further promote historical awareness. Opening hours are Monday and Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday to 6 p.m., Thursday to 7 p.m. and Friday to 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Visitors are invited to carefully consider the important themes of this exhibition and to actively engage with the past.

For further information about the current exhibition and to register for the accompanying lectures and workshops, those interested can visit the vhs Regensburger Land website.