Rediscovered: The Nazi-Banned Sculptures Found in Berlin
In 2010, a remarkable discovery emerged from beneath Berlin's city center: a collection of modernist sculptures, long thought lost, was unearthed during construction work near the Rotes Rathaus. These artworks, condemned as "degenerate" by the Nazi regime, had been hidden away for decades, only to resurface and offer a poignant reminder of a dark chapter in art history.
Unearthing the Past
The find occurred during archaeological excavations ahead of a new underground railway extension. Amid the rubble of a building destroyed in World War II, workers discovered eleven sculptures by artists such as Emy Roeder, Edwin Scharff, and Otto Freundlich. These pieces had been confiscated by the Nazis in the 1930s and were believed to have been destroyed. Their survival and rediscovery provide a tangible connection to the cultural oppression of the era.
Art Under Siege
The Nazi regime's campaign against modern art labeled works that didn't align with their ideology as "Entartete Kunst" or "degenerate art." In 1937, the infamous Degenerate Art Exhibition in Munich showcased over 700 such works, aiming to ridicule and condemn them. Many pieces were destroyed, sold, or hidden away. The sculptures found in Berlin had been stored in a building that was later bombed, leading to their entombment beneath the city's streets.
A Belated Defiance
The rediscovery of these sculptures was more than an archaeological event; it was a symbolic act of cultural reclamation. Berlin's mayor at the time described the exhibition of these works as a "belated act of defiance" against Nazi attempts to erase modernist art. Displayed at the Neues Museum, the sculptures stand as testaments to the resilience of artistic expression in the face of tyranny.
Remembering and Reflecting
The unearthed sculptures not only enrich our understanding of modern art history but also serve as powerful reminders of the importance of preserving cultural heritage. They highlight the enduring impact of art and the necessity of vigilance against censorship and oppression.
