Gedenkstätte Stille Helden

The permanent exhibition tells the story of those who came to the aid of Jews persecuted in Germany and in German-occupied Europe during the Nazi era. It provides information on the plight of the persecuted in the face of impending deportations, as well as on the decision of individuals to resist this deadly threat by going underground.

Help and rescue were the exception. However, the permanent exhibition shows that help was possible and that it was provided in many European countries. The scale, success and conditions of the assistance varied across Europe, and the motives for providing help were diverse.

The exhibition tour offers an overview of various aspects of the theme ‘Resistance to the Persecution of Jews in Europe, 1933 to 1945’. The focus is on seven examples of rescue attempts from different European countries. The exhibition highlights both non-Jewish and Jewish helpers, as well as rescue networks and both successful and failed rescue attempts. Attention is also paid to those who were persecuted: they had to make an active decision to resist the Nazi policy of persecution and murder.

Interactive maps help visitors explore the topic in terms of place and time, whilst research stations and multimedia panels provide further insight. They offer information on the situations in the respective European countries through country profiles and documentation of further rescue attempts. The exhibition’s multimedia resources also include in-depth research at terminals, where the biographies of several hundred helpers and those persecuted are documented. This database is continuously updated.

The Silent Heroes Memorial also offers guided tours, seminars and workshops.