The exhibition

Can I find documents about my own family in the German Federal Archives? Who can look at which files, and when and where can they be viewed? Is it true that historical sources can be used to debunk “fake news”? And why can’t all historical sources be digitised immediately?

The German National Library in Frankfurt am Main will be hosting the German Federal Archives' touring multimedia exhibition “History and Remembrance” from 2 March to 21 April 2022. A selection of interactively presented archival documents will bring German history to life in an area measuring nine square metres. Visitors will also be able to find out more about the Federal Archives' tasks, structure and functioning at the interactive stations.

On 17 June 2021, responsibility for the Stasi Records Archive was transferred to the Federal Archives. The touring exhibition marks the process of transferring the agency of the Federal Commissioner for the Records of the State Security Service (BStU) to the Federal Archives. The display highlights the transformation which the Federal Archives had to undergo. Tried-and-tested processes, current changes and the challenges faced by archivists are all featured in this look behind the scenes at the Federal Archives.

The Federal Archives' work and self-perception are guided by the four core values of responsibility, trust, reliability and openness. Following an introductory film, the exhibition devotes a section to each of these. Film clips provide information about the Federal Archives' collections and competences. Virtual visits to stacks, workshops and workrooms show the people who work there and what they do. Staff in various departments give interviews explaining their day-to-day work: what is stored in the Archive? What has to be done to preserve historical sources for posterity and ensure that anyone interested can access them?

Some of these sources are showcased in the exhibition. A number of documents, including a handwritten note by former Chancellor Helmut Schmidt recall the dramatic events of the “German Autumn” of 1977.

Visitors can test their understanding of archival terms, guess the handwriting of famous people, or play puzzles with historical documents. The “Gallery of Finds” showcases exciting, curious and entertaining photography from the Federal Archives.

The exhibition has been on tour since 17 June 2021 and will continue until 15 July 2022; it will be hosted at 20 locations in various German cities, including Berlin, Dresden, Karlsruhe, Leipzig, Munich, and at the Federal Archives' headquarters in Koblenz.

More about the exhibition

Trailer of the exhibition

Film of the Federal Archives