A museum exploring the history of the National Socialism movement will open on the site of former Nazi headquarters in Munich next year.
Described as a place of historical and political learning for the future, the Munich Documentation Center for the History of National Socialism has long been mooted, but various disagreements stalled the project.
Developed by Georg Scheel Wetzel architects, the museum is now under construction and is scheduled to open on 30 April 2015 – the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Munich from Nazi rule.
It is located on an empty lot where the Nazis’ Brown House headquarters once stood, and the surrounding area was home to several mass rallies.
The museum aims to reflect on Munich’s role in Adolf Hitler’s rise to power, and will also feature an exhibit exploring the difficulties Germany has faced in dealing with its Nazi past since 1945.
More than 140,000 visitors per year are projected, with approximately 1,200sq m (12,900sq ft) of exhibition space. Research stations and a library demonstrate the focus on learning, while the centre will also run lectures, panel discussions, conferences, and tours.
Another German museum charting the history of National Socialism recently announced an
expansion project, while plans for a museum dedicated to the history of fascism in
Benito Mussolini’s Italian hometown were released this week.
