The building: the former "administration building of the NSDAP"
The genesis of the Zentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte is closely
linked with the history of its location. The take-over of the buildings
of the National Socialist Party (NSDAP) by the US Military Government in
May 1945 and the placement of the Central Art Collecting Point in the
former "administration building of the NSDAP" provided the
spatial and institutional framework which allowed the foundation of the
Zentralinstitut. These specific preconditions explain why, since 1946,
the Institute is situated in a former building of the NSDAP.
The Parteizentrum (Party headquarters) of the NSDAP at Königsplatz in Munich, the "capital of the movement", was the first major building project of the National Socialists in Germany. In 1930, the Party acquired the Palais Barlow at Brienner Strasse and modified it into a representative residence for the Party headquarters. Called "Braunes Haus", it became the heart of the future Party district. As early as the end of 1931, Hitler commissioned the architect Paul Ludwig Troost (1878-1934) to develop plans for enlargement which were executed in an increased scale beginning in the summer of 1933. After Troost's death his wife Gerdy, an interior decorator, continued the task in cooperation with Leonhard Gall, Head of the Studio Troost. Together, the "Führerbau" ("Führer building") (1933-1937), the "Verwaltungsbau" (administration building) (1934-1937), the "Ehrentempel" ("Temples of honour") (1934-1935) and the Königsplatz, which was paved in 1935 to serve as a rally square, form a symmetric forum. While the monumental structures served for representation and administration, the "Ehrentempel" commemorated the so-called "martyrs of the movement", i.e. supporters of the national socialist party who had been killed by the police near the Feldherrnhalle during their attempted coup d'état on November 9th, 1923. In the end, the authorities in the NSDAP headquarters occupied about fifty buildings in the vicinity.
At war's end, the "Braunes Haus" had been largely destroyed and was pulled down, whereas parts of the "Ehrentempel" were blown up in 1947. The American military government confiscated the NSDAP buildings including the more or less undamaged "Führer building" and the "administration building", where, by the end of May 1945, they installed the Central Art Collecting Point for art looted by Nazi organizations, thus setting the course for continuous cultural utilisation of the buildings. In this context, the Zentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte was founded in 1946. Both architecture and furnishing are listed as being under protection of historic buildings and monuments.
Guided tours
Guided tours on the history of the party headquarters of the NSDAP are offered upon request. Please also ask for tours for groups.
Next guided tour on:
Thursday, 14.06.2012, 6.00 p.m.
- Information:
-
Dr. Ulrike
Grammbitter
Phone: ++49(0)89/289-27584- E-mail u.grammbitter@zikg.eu
- oder
Dr. Iris Lauterbach
Phone: ++49(0)89/289-27562
E-mail: i.lauterbach@zikg.eu
Further information
-
Bürokratie und Kult : das Parteizentrum der NSDAP am Königsplatz in München / hrsg. von Iris Lauterbach, Julian Rosefeldt, Piero Steinle
München, Berlin: Deutscher Kunstverlag, 1995. - 368 S.
ISBN 3-422-06164-9
[Content] -
Bauen im Nationalsozialismus : Bayern 1933-1945 ; (Ausstellung im Münchner Stadtmuseum, 24.9.1993-9.1.1994) / Münchner Stadtmuseum. Winfried Nerdinger [Hrsg.]
München : Architekturmuseum der TU, 1993. - 584 S. -
München, "Hauptstadt der Bewegung" : Münchner Stadtmuseum ; Ausstellung ... 22.10.1993 - 27.3.1994 / Red.: Ulrike Haerendel, Bernadette Ott
München, 1993. - 487 S.
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Last update:
29.03.2012