Rathausausstellung 2026 - Tafel 29: Kultur im »Totalen Krieg« | Town-hall Exhibition 2026 - Panel 29: Culture in a time of total war

The end of National Socialist cultural activities in Hamburg The Second World War had an ever greater impact on cultural life. The joint attacks on Hamburg by the British and American air forces in the summer of 1943 destroyed many cultural institutions, including the office of cultural Affairs at Alte Rabenstrasse 4. many of these cultural institutions had to relocate to temporary premises; collections were moved; and artists were called up for military service unless classified as ‘irreplaceable’ by the Propaganda ministry. By September 1944, all theatres had had to close. Whatever cultural events remained offered the population and soldiers a degree of distraction, entertainment, and war propaganda. Up until the very end, the Nazi regime came down heavily on any doubts expressed about the ‘final victory’ or critical voices, even among artists.