Image gallery
Rodung durch Grasbrand am Tendaguru in Deutsch-Ostafrika während einer deutschen Forschungsexpedition
The DHM is planning an exhibition for October 2026 that will compare key aspects of colonial and Nazi violence in the 20th century. The exhibition will be on view in the basement of the Pei Building.
It explores the history of a comparison that extends far beyond the field of history. This comparison is not new: as early as the 1930s, forms of colonial and Nazi exercise of power were already being contrasted with one another.
At the center of this was the idea of a close “kinship” between two historical regimes of violence that differed significantly from one another in time, space, and structure: on the one hand, European colonial rule, which lasted for several centuries, and on the other, the brief phase of Nazi rule over Europe, during which the planning and exercise of extreme violence took place at a radically accelerated pace.
The exhibition traces the history of this comparison from 1900 to 1960. It sheds light on key themes that played a role in the debate and juxtaposes historical sources with contemporary and later interpretations. With an international focus, it presents examples from European colonialism and Nazi rule over Europe.
On the one hand, it presents key facts—such as the role of racism, anti-Semitism, forced labor, concentration camps, and resistance—that make objective comparisons and the identification of specific characteristics possible in the first place. On the other hand, it examines the political use of such parallels since the 1930s.
Historical comparisons can serve to sharpen analysis: they reveal both structural similarities and fundamental differences. In this way, differences and distinctive features can be identified. However, the exhibition will also address the problems and limitations of such comparisons.
By presenting the history of this debate and the historical facts underlying it, the exhibition aims to contribute to an objective and nuanced discussion.
- The exhibition is curated by Dr. Stephan Malinowski.
