Die Narben des Wahnsinns 2005
The Scars of Delusion

Berlin knows many places which are connected with the Nazi regime. Locations where their ideology was conceived, prepared, implemented, resisted and after sixty years still is reflected. As the capital of the “Dritte Reich” - Third Empire, 1933 until 1945 - Berlin was in that quality the centre of the “Wahnsinn” – the delusion.
The Nazi-ideology has, apart from her undemocratic character, amongst other things with her myth of purity of race, affected the essence of human existence and in that way it had and still has an extremely deep impact on those people confronted with it.
An ideology, which tried to maintain itself by means of a relentless and violant display of power, by designating a black sheep (the Jews), the imprisonment and massacre of the so called impure (Jews, Roma and Sinti) and human unworthy (the mentally and physically handicapped, the homosexuals), and everybody who criticised the regime (Jehova’s Witnesses, Jesuits, political opponents, etc.), showed and confirmed in this way explicitly its shortcomings.
The events and experiences during the Third Empire can be understood, perhaps come to terms with and even be forgiven. But due to their horrible impact they will not fade away; they can not, will not be forgotten. Always remain as the “Narben” – scars – of human history. Unfortunately, we have to learn that mankind does not learn from history. Since World War II, history has repeated itself in various places like Cambodia, Yugoslavia and Ruanda. Therefore it is important to be reminded time after time of the “Wahnsinn” – the delusion, by means of witnesses like memorials, maintained locations and memorial days.
In Berlin, many witnesses of the Third Empire are maintained and today function as a memorial site and information centre. It is obvious that original locations and objects have a deep impact on visitors. The confrontation and realization that “it all really took place here” make that one can not deny it.