Press release: 4.12.2014

Opening of the exhibition of the German Museum of Books and Writing of the German National Library in Leipzig on 12 December 2014, 19:30

“We'll be back home by Christmas!” This and similar exclamations were made by many as they set off on their journey to the front in August 100 years ago. Yet by December 1914 their confidence had long since evaporated and there was no end in sight to the war. Quite the opposite in fact: the first industrial total war ever seen, its unparalleled brutality and hitherto unseen destructive force only really got underway in the winter of 1914.

In its exhibition, the German Museum of Books and Writing of the German National Library is remembering the “seminal catastrophe of the 20th century” which claimed over 15 million lives and proved to be a turning point in world history. The exhibition focuses primarily on the young generation which had been shaped by the nationalism and militarism of the German empire and had been swept up entirely by the propaganda before being shaken to the core by the events of the war. Five theme modules trace the path from war indoctrination, military service preparation and daily life on the home front through to the deployment of young people on the battlefields.

The impetus for addressing this topic came from a cataloguing project for the “First World War Collection”, the 50,000 titles of which represent one of the largest war collections in Germany. On display are exhibits from the holdings of the German National Library including the collections of the German Museum of Books and Writing, and loans from eight museums. Mobilisation notices, school desks, war dictates, “War Struwwelpeter”, war cookery books, military passes, forces mail, death announcements, shrouds and the harrowing pictures of Otto Dix, Conrad Felixmüller and other young wartime artists - the exhibition brings together testimonials which recount the administrative and anonymous side of the war, while lending it a “human face”. The presentation is complemented by different media including songs, film and audio clips. The exhibition aims to provide food for thought on present-day attitudes to “war”.

“Kindheit und Jugend im Ersten Weltkrieg”
Exhibition of the German Book and Writing Museum of the German National Library in Leipzig
13 December 2014 to 7 June 2015
Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 - 18:00, Thursday 10:00 - 20:00
National holidays (except Mondays) 10:00 - 18:00
The exhibitions of the German Museum of Books and Writing are open from 10:00 to 18:00 on 25 to 28 December and also on 30 December.
Admission is free of charge.

Exhibition opens: 19:30 on 12 December
Welcome: Elisabeth Niggemann, Director General of the German National Library
Introduction: Dr. Stephanie Jacobs, Head of the German Museum of Books and Writing
Lecture on daily life on the home front: Professor Dr. Gerd Krumeich
Musical performance: Maria Hinze: Piano, Vocals / Thomas Dehler: Vocals

Guided tours of the exhibition
16 December 2014 at 11:00
22 January 2015 at 17:00
28 January 2015 at 11:00
3 February 2015 at 10:00
18 February 2015 at 17:00

Background

The Deutsche Bücherei was founded in Leipzig on 3 October 1912. Following the partition of Germany, the Deutsche Bibliothek was set up together with the German Exile Archive 1933 - 1945 in Frankfurt am Main. The Deutsche Bibliothek also housed the German Music Archive from 1970; this moved to Leipzig at the end of 2010. The German Museum of Books and Writing became part of the Deutsche Bücherei in 1950. The libraries were then amalgamated following the reunification of Germany.

Since 2006 the unified institution has been known as the German National Library (Deutsche Nationalbibliothek). It collects, documents and archives Germany's published scientific and cultural and scientific heritage in text, image and music form for use in the present and the future. The items collected include media publications issued on paper, on microforms and on other data carriers. They also include sound recordings and online publications. Besides offering use of its collections at the Leipzig and Frankfurt sites, the German National Library also provides services for libraries, the book trade, scientific institutions and individual users.

Further information
Kriegsalltag und Medienwelt: Virtuelle Ausstellung 100 Jahre Erster Weltkrieg

Contact person
s.jacobs@dnb.de