German state ponders exhibition of royal links to Nazis

The minister of culture for the state of Brandenburg surrounding Berlin has initiated preparations for a possible exhibition on the links between the royal house of Hohenzollern and the Nazis.

"I find this idea extremely appealing," Minister Manja Schüle told the Tagesspiegel newspaper on Saturday. "Critically reappraising the role of the Hohenzollern family in the Nazi era, their support for nationalism, and presenting it for citizens is a worthwhile undertaking."

She has asked the general director of the Prussian Palaces and Gardens Foundation (SPSG), Christoph Martin Vogtherr, to draw up an outline concept of what such an exhibition could look like, where it could be shown and what would be needed.

"We agreed that he would submit this draft. In the end, the foundation board would have to decide on the exhibition plans."

According to Schüle, who is also chairwoman of the foundation board, what is ruled out is "any kind of influence by the Prussian family, and also influence on the appointment of a scientific commission."

There will also be no sign above it, saying: "Joint exhibition of the SPSG and the Hohenzollern family."

At the same time, Schüle said with regard to the debate about the conflict with the descendants of the last German emperor, she was aware of the conciliatory tones coming from the House of Hohenzollern. "And yes, I am also happy about it."

Prince Georg Friedrich of Prussia had told the Tagesspiegel at the beginning of January: "From my point of view, it is absolutely overdue that the history of the Prussian palaces in Berlin and Potsdam during the Weimar Republic and the Nazi era be dealt with in an exhibition."

Such an exhibition should above all "also critically deal with the role of [his] ancestors," Georg Friedrich said.

It goes without saying that such a project would have to be accompanied by expert historians. One possible location for the exhibition is Potsdam's Cecilienhof Palace.

Independently of plans for an exhibition, negotiations have been under way since 2014 between the federal government and the states of Berlin and Brandenburg on the one hand and the Hohenzollerns on the other regarding the return of art objects and compensation.

The talks are on hold after Brandenburg resumed a lawsuit over expropriated properties that had been ongoing since 2015. The state had refused compensation on the basis of Germany's historical Unification Treaty. The Hohenzollerns are suing against this, with 1.2 million euros (1.36 million dolars) at stake.

According to the law, no compensation is paid to anyone who "substantially aided and abetted" the Nazi system.