Disposing of Hitler. Out of the Cellar, Into the Museum

What should we do with the remnants of Nazism? Should we dispose of them? Is it acceptable to sell them at a flea market or on the internet? At what point does memory become nostalgia, or even illegal neo-Nazi activity? 

Objects related to Nazism get discovered in various places and contexts – whether in one’s own basement, at flea markets or an online portal, in the estate of relatives or even in the trash. Even if one’s own family history is not entangled with the Nazi regime, such finds trigger feelings ranging from shame to detachment and even fascination. The exhibition “Disposing of Hitler. Out of the Cellar, Into the Museum” asks about the social responsibility in dealing with relics of Nazism and explores the question of how these things can strengthen democratic consciousness in the present. 

Keep it? Sell it? Destroy it? By three interactive stations, the exhibition discusses different ways in which people deal with objects related to Nazism today. What is considered appropriate, what is considered questionable? What is forbidden, where are the grey areas? What motivates people to keep, sell or destroy things? And what would visitors do? 

From Hitler busts to mass objects of Nazi propaganda to “burdened” furniture: every week the House of Austrian History (hdgö) receives offers from the public for possible additions to the museum’s collection. In this way, objects from the Nazi era that were kept for decades in private households or even in public institutions come to the museum. On the basis of 14 selected donations, the hdgö makes transparent the aspects under which it accepts these objects into the collection and thus preserves them for future generations.  

The exhibition catalog is available at the hdgö cash desk – or order online now.

Curators: Stefan Benedik, Laura Langeder, Monika Sommer / Education and curation team: Louise Beckershaus, Markus Fösl, Sarah von Holt, Dominik Ivancic, Eva Meran / Curatorial contributions: Markus Wurzer / Academic advisors: Dirk Rupnow/Universität Innsbruck, Heidemarie Uhl/Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften / Education: Vermittlungsteam des hdgö / Project management: Anna Bausch, Enid Wolf / Exhibition design: Gabu Heindl, Hannah Niemand/GABU Heindl Architektur / Exhibition graphics: Theresa Hattinger, Maria Kanzler / Conservation and Restoration: Petra Süß / Cataloguing: Johannes Pötzlberger / Text and rights management: Marianna Nenning / Communication: Ildiko Füredi-Kolarik, Lorenz Paulus, Simone Schmid / Social Media: Louise Beckershaus, Katharina Kraus / Other contributing hdgö team members: Tanja Jenni, Birgit Mollik, Nora Pierer, Antonia Plessing / Illustrations: Ilona Stütz /Proofreading: Julia Theresa Friehs / English translation: Tim Corbett, Paul Richards, Joanna White / Montage, display, production: Martina Berger/Nägel mit Köpfen / Graphics production: jentzsch, e.h.montagen / Art Handling: vienna arthandling / Media production: 7reasons / Object photography: Markus Wörgötter / Exhibition photography: Klaus Pichler

April 5, 2025–November 9, 2025: Franzensfeste Fortress State Museum, Italy
 

May 24, 2024–September 8, 2024: kärnten.museum Klagenfurt, Austria

November 9, 2023–May 3, 2024: City Museum Innsbruck, Austria

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