2014-2018: 100 Jahre Erster Weltkrieg

English

15.03.1916 - 466 bekannte deutsche Kriegstote

Karl Heinzerling

Exhibitions

Germany

Rhineland-Palatinate

Series of exhibitions on the First World War

In 2014, more than 25 museums and institutions in the Upper Rhine region will be holding exhibitions on the First World War. The joint series of exhibitions organised by a tri-national museum network will be looking at the Great War from a variety of regional and thematic perspectives. Particularly interesting: visitors can attend exhibitions on the First World War in Alsace in France, Northwestern Switzerland, and Baden-Württemberg and the Palatinate in Germany to in order to explore different perspectives.
Please go directly to the bilingual (French/German) Netzwerk Museum-Réseau Musées website for further information..

"1914 - 1918. Die Pfalz im Ersten Weltkrieg"

Until 2014, the Historical Museum of the Palatinate will develop an exciting overall concept on the subject of 'The Palatinate during the First World War'. This project is the Historical Museum of the Palatinate's contribution to the EU-funded, cross-national exhibition project on the history of the First World War.
In its 'Modern Era' exhibition collection, the museum will dedicate a separate exhibition space to the war years 1914 to 1918. Objects, photographs and documents from that period formerly in storage at the museum have been scientifically examined before going on display for the first time. The project also involved digitalising some of the museum's collection of First World War photographs, with the aim of permanent preservation of the museum's collection of historic photographs and documents, and making these accessible to a wide audience.

Where:
Speyer Historical Museum of the Palatinate
Domplatz 4
67346 Speyer

When:
29 May 2014 - November 2018

Der Erste Weltkrieg in der Grenzregion

On 12 September 2014, the centre of regional studies based at the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz will be hosting a poster exhibition entitled 'The First World War in the Border Region' at Ehrenbreitstein fortress to coincide with a remembrance event organised by the Rhineland-Palatinate region in cooperation with other regions belonging to the so-called Greater Region (Saarland, Lorraine, Luxembourg, Wallonia and parts of French and German-speaking Belgium).

On the basis of local sources from what is today the Rhineland-Palatinate, the exhibition addresses such issues as enthusiasm for the war and propaganda, war technology, consequences of the war on the military and on civilians, and also the end of the war and the time of occupation. More in-depth information can be called up from the website www.erster-weltkrieg-rlp.de with the aid of QR codes shown on the posters. From late summer onwards, the posters will be available to download there.

Where:
Ehrenbreitstein Fortress
Koblenz - from 12 September 2014 onwards

and also

Gutenbergplatz
Mainz - 13 - 14 September 2014

"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.