Rathausausstellung 2026 - Tafel 10: Nationalsozialistische Eingriffe in die Arbeit der Museen | Town-hall Exhibition 2026 - Panel 10: Interference by the Nazi regime in museums’ day-to-day business

Case in point: The Altona Museum Not even their strong emphasis on homeland-related subjects could protect Hamburg’s museums from state interference. Nazi authorities exerted influence on their personnel policies and the content of their exhibitions and collections. In 1933, the Altona Museum was forced to remove a display of a Jewish hall of worship from its permanent exhibition. As of 1935, all art and arts and crafts exhibitions were subject to the approval of the Reich Chamber of Culture. The museums also served as mouth-pieces for the Nazi regime by showcasing propaganda exhibitions. In 1941/42 for instance, both the Museum of Hamburg History [MHG] and the Altona Museum showcased the exhibition Germany’s Struggle for World Supremacy, created by the Reich Ministry for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda.