“Why ‘Totgeschwiegen’?” a visitor once asked. The name translates to “kept silent.” It hints at the stories waiting within this very building. I am delighted to share some of them with you.
We stand before the Ausstellung Totgeschwiegen. It is a powerful exhibition. It confronts a dark chapter of German history. The exhibition addresses the Nazi crimes committed against people with mental health issues.
The Ausstellung Totgeschwiegen is located on the grounds of the Karl-Bonhoeffer-Nervenklinik. This clinic has a long history. It was founded in 1880 as the “Irren- und Idiotenanstalt der Stadt Berlin zu Dalldorf.” This translates to the “Asylum for the Insane and Idiots of the City of Berlin in Dalldorf.” Dalldorf is now Wittenau. In the 1920s, it was renamed Wittenauer Heilstätten.
The focus of the Ausstellung Totgeschwiegen is on medical crimes during the Nazi era. It documents research findings. These findings concern forced sterilizations and the clinic’s role in the “Euthanasie” program “T4”. This program was the systematic murder of disabled children. It happened in the children’s specialist department, Wiesengrund. The exhibition also sheds light on the fates of Jewish and foreign patients.
From 1940, systematic gassing took place. Mentally and physically disabled people were transferred from clinics. They went to concentration camps for extermination.
The Ausstellung Totgeschwiegen does not shy away from difficult questions. It asks to what extent the Nazi crimes against the mentally ill were repressed.
The exhibition first opened in August 1988. This followed extensive research. It was completely revised in 2008. The Bonhoeffer family requested a name change in January 2009. It became “Totgeschwiegen 1933-1945.” This highlighted the history of the Wittenauer Heilstätten during that period. The clinic was renamed Karl-Bonhoeffer-Nervenklinik in 1957.
Visiting the Ausstellung Totgeschwiegen is a moving experience. It encourages reflection on human dignity. It asks us to treat everyone with respect, tolerance, and acceptance.
The exhibition is open on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 10 AM to 1 PM. It is also open every last Sunday of the month from 1 PM to 4:30 PM. Groups can register by calling 0172 236 50 55. They can also email mail@totgeschwiegen.org.
The Ausstellung Totgeschwiegen serves as a reminder. We must never forget the atrocities of the past. It challenges us to confront prejudice. It compels us to stand up for the rights of all people. Let us carry these lessons forward. Let us create a more inclusive and compassionate future.