Made in Germany
Industry and Forced Labor under National Socialism
Cabinet Exhibition with Photographs by Tomasz Lewandowski
Industry and Forced Labor under National Socialism
The exhibition “Made in Germany” places products of German industry from 1939 to 1945 at its center – manufactured by companies involved in the Nazi forced labor system.
The photographs by Tomasz Lewandowski present these objects in a precise, matter-of-fact visual language: technical devices, everyday items, branded products – staged as aesthetic artifacts of a historical system. They are complemented by original objects that make the material connection to history directly tangible. Accompanying background texts shed light on the role of the companies in which the displayed products were created – firms that profited from forced labor and whose names are, in many cases, still well known today.
The exhibition asks: How did the label “Made in Germany” emerge? What economic and human conditions underpinned its success? The leading position of German industry during the postwar economic boom was based not least on innovations and structures established during the war years. The Nazi forced labor system was a fundamental component of the economy of the “Third Reich.” By “illuminating” these objects through photography, the exhibition contributes to a culture of remembrance – while also building a bridge to the present: even today, low production costs in a globalized world are often linked to the exploitation of people and nature.
“Made in Germany” invites visitors to reflect on responsibility, remembrance, and industrial production – both yesterday and today.