The Museum Association for the Province of Saxony and for Anhalt. The Influence of Museum Advisory Services and their Networks on Museums in the Province of Saxony and in Anhalt during the Nazi Period. Actors, Structures, Resources, and Interconnections
Dr. Annette Müller-Spreitz
PositionKoordination Provenienzforschung
Tel.+49 (0)3471 - 62 81 16
E-Mailmueller-spreitz@mv-sachsen-anhalt.de
Sven Pabstmann M.A.
PositionWissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter für Provenienzforschung
Tel.+49 (0)3471 - 62 81 16
E-Mailpabstmann@mv-sachsen-anhalt.de
Presentation of the Recipient
The Museum Association Saxony-Anhalt, which was founded in 1990, is supported by the Federal State of Saxony-Anhalt. Its main purpose, according to its statutes of association, is to further train and provide advice to museums staff. Furthermore, it functions as a place of consultation and expertise for public and municipal organisations. The exchange of information is facilitated by means of special working groups and their associations journal. In this regard and on behalf of its members, the Museum Association represents their interests towards the general public and other parties, as well as with municipal and state offices. The Museum Association maintains and seeks contacts with other associations of museums for the purpose of exchanging information and experiences.
Explanation of the research project
Based on comprehensive source research, the project was dedicated to research the history of the Museums Association in the Prussian province of Saxony and in the Free State of Anhalt during the National Socialist era. The focus of the investigation was the development of the museum association as well as its structures, personnel networks and activities in the period from 1933 to 1945.
Initial questions and objectives
Among other things, the question was to investigate, to what extent central actors in the museums system in the province of Saxony and in the Free State of Anhalt were intertwined with the Nazi regime. In addition, we need to understand the scope of action they had in connection with the founding, redesign and development of museums. Therefore, the following questions were among those guiding the provenance research:
How did the personnel and organisational structure of the Museum Association change during the National Socialist era?
How and by what means did the Museum Association control the development of the museums sector between 1933 and 1945?
Which personal networks with local museum directors, state conservators, local and supra-regional associations and political organisations did the Museum Association use?
Which contacts existed with the museum associations in neighbouring provinces and countries?
What role did the Museum Association play in the implementation of air-raid protection measures, the delivery of the museums metal objects to the war economy (the so-called metal reserve), and in the war-related securing and relocation of museum art and cultural objects?
The aim of the project was to clarify the extent to which museum advisory services in the province of Saxony and the Free State of Anhalt (until 1944) and the province of Saxony-Anhalt (19441947) had an influence concerning the museums as well as their content-related work and how this advisory service should be evaluated today. Therefore, the project closes the research gap on the work of the museum advisory centres throughout Germany at that time and provides basic research for the area of Saxony-Anhalt.
(c) Museumsverband Sachsen-Anhalt
- Der Afrikareisende Hans Schomburgk – Sammeln, um zu zeigen. Erwerbskontexte von ethnologischen Objekten in der ersten Hälfte des 20. Jahrhunderts
- Erstcheck Provenienzforschung NS-Raubgut im Museum für Stadtgeschichte Dessau, Anhaltische Gemäldegalerie, Städtisches Museum Halberstadt, Museum Burg Ummendorf Bestand Kreismuseum Oschersleben, Kreismuseum Osterburg
- Erstcheck von Museumsbeständen in Altmärkisches Museum Stendal, Danneil-Museum Salzwedel, Gleimhaus Halberstadt, Museum Aschersleben, Museum Schloss Moritzburg Zeitz
- Verdachtsmomente klären – vertiefende Provenienzforschung im Altmärkischen Museum Stendal und Danneil-Museum Salzwedel
- Erstcheck Provenienzforschung NS-Raubgut im Stadtmuseum „Wilhelm von Kügelgen“ Ballenstedt, Stadtmuseum Halle (Saale), Historisches Museum für Mittelanhalt & Bach-Gedenkstätte Köthen, Museum Wolmirstedt
- Erstcheck NS-Raubgut von Museumsbeständen in Museum Schloss Bernburg, Kreismuseum Bitterfeld, Museum für Naturkunde und Vorgeschichte Dessau, Freilichtmuseum Diesdorf, Museum Schloß Neuenburg (Bestände ehemalig. Kreismuseum), Museum Heineanum
- Erstcheck Provenienzforschung koloniale Kontexte im Museum Aschersleben, Städtischen Museum Halberstadt und Museum Wolmirstedt
- Erstcheck Provenienzforschung NS-Raubgut im Kreismuseum Genthin, im Museums Burg Querfurt und im Museum der Stadt Zerbst/Anhalt
- Vorgehen der Kunst und Antiquitäten GmbH beim Beschaffen von Kunstgegenständen und Kleinantiquitäten in Zusammenarbeit mit der Zollverwaltung der DDR – Die Sammlung Wurm (Dessau)