Exile. Experience and Testimony
Photo: Anja Jahn
Exhibition
What does it mean to have to go into exile? What awaits one there? Does exile ever finish? And what remains of exile?
Between 1933 and 1945 some 500,000 people were forced into exile from the areas governed by the Nazi dictatorship. What they all had in common was the fact that they had been marginalised and persecuted. Yet there were differences in the specific reasons for, and times of their escape – and in their journeys, destinations and experiences in exile. The experience of exile from 1933 to 1945 was diverse and individual. It meant rupture and loss, but also a fresh start and new opportunities.
The German Exile Archive 1933–1945 has been specifically conceived to provide a multiperspective view of exile. The exhibition consists exclusively of exhibits from the German Exile Archive.
The German Exile Archive 1933–1945 collects testimony of this exile in the form of publications and institutional and personal estates. The choice of the items it collects is not dependent on the occupation or the renown of the individual concerned. A number of exiles themselves played a role in initiating the archive. They regarded it as an instrument of political enlightenment.
Embedded in a prologue and an epilogue, the exhibition is divided into three main thematic chapters: Exodus – In exile – After exile. These are subdivided into several smaller chapters. The exhibits, which are allocated to the chapters, serve a number of different functions: They point to the plurality of experiences, provide biographical insights and visually portray the individual statements made in the overview texts. Each exhibit tells the story of a specific historical experience. The exhibition therefore provides a broad overview of the phenomenon of the German-speaking exile 1933–1945; at the same time, however, it is also a plea for attention to details and for multi-perspectivity when dealing with history.
Image gallery
Finding your way around
The exhibition is divided into three main themes. Eight explanatory biographies reappear at various points through-out the exhibition in the form of specially marked object labels. A timeline, a map of the world, as well as tablet PCs in the reading areas provide historical, political, geographical and biographical background information on the exhibits. The Epilogue puts the stories of the objects themselves centre stage: What is their provenance and how did they end up in the archive?
The route into exile, and life once there, was not always linear – which is also reflected in the arrangement of the display cabinets. One object – the suitcase – assumed particular significance on the in some cases tortuous routes into exile, and has now come to be regarded as a symbol of flight and exile. Special examples are featured at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of the exhibition. The suitcase was there during the escape, provided storage for whatever items could be taken along – and eventually became a collection object itself.
Information for your visit
Opening hours and admission
Monday to Friday 9–21:30
Saturday 10–17:30
Closed on Sundays and public holidays
Admission free
Guided tours
General and theme-based guided tours of our exhibitions are held on a regular basis.
To the events calendar
Group tours
You are also welchome to book group tours with us. Simply write us an e-mail:
exilarchiv@dnb.de
Accessibility
Barrier-free access to the exhibition is available.
Address and getting here
German National Library
Adickesallee 1
60322 Frankfurt am Main
Getting here
We advise you to use public transport.
1 / By public transport
By rail
From the main railway station, take the U4 in the direction of Bornheim or Enkheim or the S-Bahn in the direction city centre and get off at “Konstablerwache”. Change to the U5 in the direction of Preungesheim and get off at the stop “Deutsche Nationalbibliothek”. Journey time approx. 15 minutes.
By plane
From the airport (regional station), take S-Bahn S8 in the direction of Hanau or the S9 in the direction of Offenbach and get off at “Konstablerwache”. Change to the U5 in the direction of Preungesheim and get off at the stop “Deutsche Nationalbibliothek”. Journey time approx. 30 minutes.
By bus
The “Deutsche Nationalbibliothek” bus stop is served by the number M32 bus.
2 / By car
The address for navigation devices is Eckenheimer Landstraße 165. The building is accessed from the underground car park. The maximum entrance height is 2.0 m.
Approaching from the west
Take the A66 to the end of the autobahn in Miquelallee and follow the signs for Fulda/Hanau; at the third intersection, turn right into Eckenheimer Landstraße in the direction of the city centre; follow the signs and turn right into the underground car park.
Approaching from the north
Take the A661 to the Eckenheim exit, get into the lane for the city centre/Eckenheim, continue straight on to the third major set of traffic lights and cross these. The entrance to the underground car park is located at the German National Library building around 100 metres further on the right.
Parking
Our underground car park has 100 parking spaces for visitors on the first basement floor.
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 6:00 to 22:00, Saturday 8:00 to 18:00.
Fees: 2.00 Euro/hour, cash or card payment.
The permanent rental of parking spaces is not possible.
For on-street parking spaces in the Holzhausenviertel district, the City of Frankfurt of Main charges 50 cents per quarter hour or part thereof from Monday to Friday between 7:00 and 19:00.
3 / Accessibility
The German National Library in Frankfurt am Main has designated disabled parking spaces in its underground car park and next to the building in Schlosserstraße. The Library's public rooms can be accessed by lift from the underground car park. Barrier-free access to the main entrance is also available from Schlosserstraße.
Last changes:
24.01.2024
Short-URL:
https://www.dnb.de/EN/exile
Contact:
exilarchiv-veranstaltungen@dnb.de