- Global showcase highlighting judicial processes in Nazi warfare
At the contemporary memorial location "Red Ox" in Halle, numerous executions ordered by the Reich Military Court during the final years of World War II took place. A cross-border traveling exhibit, known as "The Reich Military Court 1936 to 1945: National Socialist Military Justice and Crushing of Resistance in Europe," is now dedicated to the individual narratives of individuals sentenced and defying the NS system during that time. This exhibit will be officially launched on Thursday at the Halle City Museum.
This exhibit, a joint effort between the memorial site and partners from Belgium, France, Norway, Poland, and the Czech Republic, as well as German institutions, has been in development since 2019.
Trials against resistance group members
The Reich Military Court was established in 1936 and was responsible for prosecuting not just German Wehrmacht members but also several thousand members of resistance groups from the European countries invaded and occupied by Germany, as per the Foundation of Memorial Sites in Saxony-Anhalt. The court primarily operated in Berlin-Charlottenburg until 1943, then in Torgau, Saxony, until 1945, and also in other German, Polish, French, and Norwegian cities. In total, it handed down over 1,200 death sentences and issued prison sentences in German prisons, Wehrmacht penal units, and concentration camps.
Remembrance culture gap bridged
"The exhibition is a significant step in bridging the gap in the remembrance culture of Germany and the affected countries," said the foundation. "Despite its importance as a crucial component of the Nazi repression system, the Reich Military Court remains underappreciated in the public sphere today."
The exhibition centres around the personal histories of those impacted by its decisions. Collecting items belonging to the victims and conducting interviews with relatives were the primary focuses of the exhibition creators.
Following its Halle presentation, the exhibition will also be displayed in Warsaw, Berlin, and Paris.
The exhibition, after its launch in Halle, will also be showcased in prominent cities such as Berlin and Paris, further spreading awareness about the Reich Military Court and its impact on various European nations, including France. It's worth noting that the court convened trials against resistance group members from multiple countries, including France, during its operation.
