Entangled Memories?

The cultural heritage of the present includes remembering the extreme experiences of violence in the 20th century. Biographies and object histories made visible in the Humboldt Forum reveal entanglements between the policies of destruction under colonialism and National Socialism. Drawing on personal stories and remarkable objects—ranging from sculptures from Cameroon to gold artefacts from Latin America—the tour uncovers how global histories of exploitation, displacement, and destruction reverberate into the present. It also reflects on the turbulent political story of the Berlin Palace after the fall of the monarchy, offering a broader view of shifting power structures in the 20th century.

Rather than providing simple answers, the tour opens up space for conversation: How can societies acknowledge different experiences of violence? What might a shared, supportive culture of remembrance look like today? By foregrounding contemporary Jewish and postcolonial voices, the tour invites visitors to engage with new ways of remembering together.