What I learned, as Syrian journalist from »Haus der Geschichte« in Stuttgart

»Germans’ view to their history is not perfect, and maybe not enough, and many can argue about numerous flaws and issues that they wish to deal with differently and more inclusively. However, as a journalist coming from a war zone full of complications we are still unable to handle, I believe we have a lot to learn from the way Germany deals with the questions of history.«

Apparently, only one visit to the »House of History« or »Haus der Geschichte« in Stuttgart wasn’t enough for me. Two weeks after a guided tour there, I felt the need to go back by myself, and more deeply encounter many issues that the three-story building raised in my mind. As a journalist coming from Syria, already having tens of historical, political, social, and cultural questions related to wars and conflicts that are still not answered, »Haus der Geschichte« offered me some fresh thoughts.

A big, multicolored map on the floor dating to 1790 welcomes museum visitors. As some might confine themselves to a quick look, this map was pretty impressive to me, as it analyzes the history of each piece of the state of Baden-Württemberg in a detailed and clear way, stating the ruling powers, the now-invisible borders between their lands, and various social and economic dynamics. For me, this map wishes to tell visitors that if we want to understand today’s differences and richness, we must look into our history very carefully, with a genuine determination to learn from its mistakes, but also its good practices. I heard from some people that I met that it is true that the old borders (Fig. 01) on this map shows are still alive in the minds of many Germans until today. But the long journey of transformation that the country underwent in the following centuries, on many levels, was quite enough to mitigate the burden of those borders, making them as invisible as possible.

Going up one level in the building, we see a glimpse of the transformation that took place at the beginning of the nineteenth century: from bloody wars to a relative stability with the first constitution, set in a small yet elegant room, without forgetting to show very large brutal paintings where the violence of war is obvious, as is the role of women in times of both war and peace. Brutality and women in wartime are two important aspects that one should not forget at any price.

The exhibition of major events continues smoothly, with an emphasis on the role of the press and the importance of its freedom. For example, a book shows how journalists were trying to play around the censorship that forbade them from publishing certain articles, but allowed them to publish any book exceeding 300 pages. Thus, a simple and creative solution was to combine all the censored articles in a book, and refer to passages deleted from newspapers in red. What a clever way to cope with regulations; one that tells us about the impossibility of controlling thoughts and ideas. This is also shown in an adjacent room, full of journal papers on the walls and ceiling, aiming to present the power of the word as well as show brutal metal weapons such as guns and rifles, to constantly remind us to not repeat bloody wars.

»History is constantly changeable, and what really remains is what we are able, and we dare, to learn from it.«

Two powerful rooms follow, one black and one red, in which dark and painful scenes from First and Second World Wars’ mass killing and destruction are exhibited, as well as the horrors of the Holocaust, the waves of displacement and migration, and discrimination that was applied to many marginalized groups. The messages and lessons from these two rooms, which also give some sense of being inside a »graveyard,« cannot be clearer: let us be firm in our will not to repeat the atrocities of the war, but on the contrary, to walk toward a more peaceful future.

And this is exactly what the next bright and colorful spaces show: a willingness to rebuild cities and new social dynamics, and then, maybe most importantly to Germany, a new economic scene: where »Made in Germany« became a trend not only inside the country but as a brand that was shown to the whole world, like a new symbol of the country.

The exhibition’s third floor addresses different ideas such as the country’s cultural and religious diversity and the evolution of society. Many wedding pictures show how social behavior changed in the past century. We see the importance of environmental preservation; and reflect on the new waves of immigrants in the past decades, as an important debate in today’s Germany, by presenting huge suitcases full of personal details and stories.

Indeed, Germans’ view to their history is not perfect, and maybe not enough, and many can argue about numerous flaws and issues that they wish to deal with differently and more inclusively. However, as a journalist coming from a war zone full of complications we are still unable to handle, I believe we have a lot to learn from the way Germany deals with the questions of history, a process that is still developing.