Rathausausstellung 2026 - Tafel 30: »Minderbelastet« | Town-hall Exhibition 2026 - Panel 30: Minderbelastete [Lesser Offenders]

The Denazification of Hamburg’s cultural sector After the peaceful handover on 3 May 1945, Hamburg came under British military administration. Several buildings were requisitioned, including the Musikhalle, the former seat of Hamburg’s Office of cultural Affairs. The British occupying power set about removing Nazis from important areas of society. Anyone who had previously held certain positions or ranks was automatically interned. In Hamburg’s cultural sector, this applied to – among others – two Nazi Ministers of culture and the head of the regional office of the Reich Propaganda Office. All civil servants and employees were required to fill out questionnaires, giving full details of their membership in Nazi organisations. A denazification committee was authorised to impose dismissals and freeze the assets of any individual with ties to the Nazi Party. But in the cultural sector, very few people were affected by these measures.