Silent Heroes Memorial Centre
The stories of Anne Frank and Oskar Schindler have long proved we are captivated by the accounts of those forced into hiding under the Nazi regime, and of those who risked their lives to protect them. The ‘Silent Heroes Memorial Centre’ explores complex and clandestine tales of resistance beyond the familiar Hollywood interpretation, presenting gripping and uplifting stories from the dual perspective of the persecuted and those who helped them.
Why go there?
This part of the Mitte district, which is characterised by courtyards (Höfe) hidden behind the main façade of the street, has become a favourite among tourists looking for an authentic Berlin neighbourhood. Whether what they find is authentic or not is another matter, but the recently redeveloped Hakesche Höfe, in the next courtyard along from this museum, is worth a visit for its architecture and café culture. The museum is an easy walk from Unter den Linden and Alexanderplatz, or take the S-Bahn to Hackescher Markt.
Don’t be put off by the graffiti in the entrance to Rosenthaler Str. 39: this scruffy alleyway is home to three linked museums. As well as the Silent Heroes Memorial Centre, you will also find the Otto Weidt museum two stairwells along. During the Third Reich, this workshop was staffed mainly by deaf and blind Jews whom Weidt protected. Today, it serves to remind us of dissent at the core of Berln. At the end of the alleyway is an offshoot of the Dutch Anne Frank Centre, telling another story of Jews who were hidden by brave friends and neighbours.
Once you step inside the Silent Heroes Memorial Centre you leave the tourist bustle behind. Documents and text take centre stage in the displays of the lives of the hidden and their protectors. Consequently, it isn’t an ideal visit for smaller children, but they are more likely to be bored than upset by its content. There are, however, plenty of photographs and some intriguing objects, so it won’t just be an afternoon of reading. Tours are available in English and are recommended for ages 12 and up. Although an English version of their website isn’t yet available, the tours can be booked fairly easily under the ‘Führungen’ section.
What’s inside?
Whilst the Gedenkstätte Stille Helden may not have the visual pull of its famous neighbours on Museum Island, it nonetheless offers some uplifting lessons from a period traditionally dominated by depictions of its atrocities.
The exhibition humanises the resistance of ordinary Germans, which is especially important in the light of a regime that sought to rob its victims of individuality. If you are interested in the more ‘human’ side of German history, the individual narratives of the ‘quiet heroes’, from housewives to shopkeepers, will definitely appeal. Their help took many forms, from acquiring false papers, to giving food and shelter, to far more dramatic interventions. There are surprises too: the ‘saviours in uniform’, for instance, appeared outwardly to be very much part of the Nazi machine, yet resistance could manifest itself in the most unlikely quarters of society.
The opportunity to engage with the past doesn’t end at the display cases. A multimedia area with access to a database gives visitors scope for further research.
German History Museums 