80 years ago 1945. Heidelberg – All and Everything Lost?
How did the people in Heidelberg experience the end of the Second World War and its direct aftermath? What needs, memories and expectations, hopes and concerns shaped their daily lives?
Apart from the Neckar bridges, the city did not suffer any destruction. The people living in it were, however, profoundly marked by the National Socialist dictatorship and the war: US occupying soldiers and officers, former forced laborers (now displaced persons) and victims of Nazi persecution had to live with those who had been bombed out of neighboring cities, returning veterans and refugees, leading and ordinary party members, as well as the women and men, young and old belonging to the disintegrated “Volksgemeinschaft” of yesterday. There was only a faint outline of what would take its place. Heidelberg was a stopover or hometown, a former place of repression or a hopeful destination and – for the occupying power – both enemy territory and a political mission field. Perspectives varied greatly.
In the entrance area of the New University, the photo exhibition designed by doctoral candidates at the Department of History takes a sweeping look at the complex and contradictory life in the city shortly after the war ended. Alongside familiar views, their focus is on creating a collage of people and their daily lives. Accordingly, they have five main themes: the arrival of the Americans and the start of their occupation, denazification and democratic reorganization, the daily lives of displaced persons, the food and supply situation in the city, plus the resumption of public education and cultural life.
What a strange year, this 1945, in no way comparable with the end of the war in 1918, quite apart from the extent of the catastrophe for us and the whole world.
Marie Baum, Social politician and women's rights activist