Käte Niederkirchner (1909–1944) was considered an icon of the anti-fascist resistance in East Germany. Factory collectives, holiday homes, kindergartens, and even a ship were named after her. Today, two streets in the Mitte and Pankow districts, as well as a memorial plaque unveiled in 1989 at her former residence at Pappelallee 22, still commemorate her.
With its exhibition on the contradictory legacy of the Niederkirchner family, the Pankow Museum illuminates the family's complex history while simultaneously questioning the prevailing heroic narrative.
The exhibition examines the interplay between familial and societal memory and repression along historical ruptures. It encourages viewers to question traditions, instrumentalization, and the creation of legends, extending beyond the example of the Niederkirchner family.
A catalog accompanies the exhibition.
