2014-2018: 100 Jahre Erster Weltkrieg

English

15.03.1916 - 466 bekannte deutsche Kriegstote

Robert Kliche

Exhibitions

Germany

Bavaria

"100 Jahre Erster Weltkrieg"
Permanent exhibition

The centenary of the First World War is a particularly special event for Ingolstadt. Although this former fortress of the Kingdom of Bavaria was not actually forced to defend itself, it was an important supply centre for the army at the front. People and goods in previously unimaginable numbers were sent there. What came back were the wounded and the prisoners; hunger was rampant, and news of the death of loved ones was expected at any time.
The town of Ingolstadt and the Bavarian army museum are commemorating this great European tragedy with a varied programme.

In addition, the Bavarian army museum will hold numerous exhibitions and events on the subject of the First World War.
Please see the events flyer for individual events and details of venues and dates..

Where:
Bayerisches Armeemuseum
Reduit Tilly
Ingolstadt

„Dieser Stellungs- und Festungskrieg ist fürchterlich“

When the German empire was founded in 1871, the Bavarian army retained its independence, in organisational terms. During the first weeks of the First World War, it was dispatched almost in its entirety to Lorraine and the Vosges mountains.

In the course of the war, it was then dispersed to various different sections of the front. The Battle of Lorraine in August and September 1914 was the last battle which the Bavarian army units fought together. They sustained heavy losses there, which made the entire country finally realise the grave seriousness of the war.

This motivated the Bavarian army museum to commemorate the outbreak of the First World War from the Bavarian perspective with an exhibition entitled 'This trench and siege warfare and is dreadful'.

Where:
Bavarian Army Museum
Reduit Tilly
Ingolstadt

When:
28 June 2014 - 3 August 2015

"Die Alpen im Krieg – Krieg in den Alpen"

The beginnings of the German mountain troops

With the special exhibition 'The Alps at War - War in the Alps', which is dedicated to the beginnings of the German mountain troops, the Bavarian army museum, in cooperation with Kameradenkreis Deutsche Gebirgstruppe, the German mountain troop veterans association, the Museum of Military History (Vienna) and the Militärhistorisches Museum der Bundeswehr (Dresden), attempts to merge both lines of development into an overall picture of the time 100 years ago, and of the mountain war against Italy, as the old Europe was about to self-destruct. The exhibition focuses on the period up to September 1915, when the 'Alpine corps' was withdrawn from the Alps and moved to other fronts.

Where:
Bavarian Army Museum
Reduit Tilly
Ingolstadt

When:
from September 2014 onwards

"Forget-Me-Not"– Floral Symbol for Remembering the Casualties of War

Due to its name, the forget-me-not is an international symbol of remembrance as well as a loving last farewell, coupled with the expression of a desire to stay in the minds of loved ones. In many languages, it is called the same name with the same meaning. Numerous poems and songs have been written about this flower.

The "blue flower" is a well-known motif in German romanticism. It stands for longing and love. It is also an expression of the pursuit of perfection, as well as the futility of the human search for perfect happiness.

At the beginning of the First World War, many young war volunteers romanticised and glorified the personal sacrifice for their respective countries,as yet unaware of modern weaponry and its gruesome consequences. The self-knowledge symbolised by the "blue flower" of romanticism is a deeply individualistic motif. From today"s perspective, its use as a flower of remembrance counterpoints the merciless mass carnage during this first World War.

Other nations also used floral motifs to remember the casualties of war: the red poppy, for example, is used as a sign of remembrance throughout the Commonwealth states whilst the "Bleuet de France", the blue cornflower, is its French counterpart. Interestingly, the blue cornflower was also used to remember the German war casualties after the First World War, although primarily by extreme nationalists.

In 1926, the Freemasons chose the symbolism of the forget-me-not as an internal badge of recognition. Later on, under the NS regime, the Winterhilfswerk relief organisation issued a donation badge showing a bunch of three forget-me-nots in the course of a two day campaign, which made it possible for the Freemasons to wear "their" badge openly without fear of persecution.

Besides it meaning (and also its colours), the motto "Lest we forget", which the Volksbund German war graves commission has used for the peace education measures it organises in remembrance of all victims of war and violence, the word "forget" also clearly establishes a connection to the flower forget-me-not. The logo at the centre of the flower, inspired by a photograph of the so-called "Grave of the Four Infantrymen" from the First World War in Grabowiec/Poland, establishes the connection to the war graves commission. The Volksbund is particularly committed to upholding the remembrance of those who have died in wars and the war casualties of all nations.

In the form pictured above, the forget-me-not badge signals that the wearer believes the victims of war and violence, regardless of their nationality, must never be forgotten. It is worn mainly on days of silent remembrance such as Remembrance Day, All Saints, All Souls etc., and on special occasions such as memorial services in cemeteries and dedicated national holidays, and may be ordered from the Volksbund at (subject to availability). The logo may also be used for own projects, provided permission to do so is requested in writing; please make respective requests to the above address.