The ambitious exhibition “The Third World in World War II” travels to Osnabrück to the Erich Maria Remarque-Friedenszentrum. A “forgotten chapter in history” is to be illuminated, according to the curators.
On 1 September 1939, the Second World War was started in Europa. In Africa, war already ravaged since 1935 with the Second Italo-Absyssinian War (with soldiers from 17 countries and 3 continents), and also the Japanese attack on China had already begun in 1937. Until 1945, millions of Third World soldiers worked either voluntarily or gang-pressed as soldiers or civilians for the warring colonial powers. Vast areas of the Third World – from the coasts of Latin America and North Africa to the Middle East and India, South-East Asia and Oceania – became battle grounds and remained devastated after the war.
The exhibition does not solely view the “Third World” as victim, but also sheds a light on collaborators with the Axis Powers. Recherche international e.V. in cooperation with the Rheinisches JournalistInnenbüro remember these aspects that are hardly mentioned in Western historiography.
The exhibition is organised as part of the “Africa Festival 2010” by Aktionszentrum Dritte Welt, Erich Maria Remarque-Friedenszentrum and Volkshochschule Osnabrück.
A school version of the exhibition will be opened on 11 May at 1130h at Graf-Stauffenberg-Gymnasium (Gottlieb-Planck-Str. 1, 49080 Osnabrück), to be shown until 22 June. It is possible to be guided by pupils; registration via Ms Hahn (secretariat): +49-(0)541-3803136.
A supporting programme (free entrance) adds to the information:
Tuesday, 11 May 2010, 1930h, Erich Maria Remarque-Friedenszentrum
Karl Rössel (Rheinisches JournalistInnenbüro, Cologne); lecture (in German) with photos and soundbites:
“Only the bullets did not distinguish between Blacks and Whites” – Africa in World War II
Wednesday, 26 May 2010, 1930h, Erich Maria Remarque-Friedenszentrum
Albrecht Kieser (Rheinisches JournalistInnenbüro, Cologne):
Africa in World War II: Cheap Natural Resources and Forced Labourers
Tuesdy, 1 June 2010, 1930h, Erich Maria Remarque-Friedenszentrum
Albrecht Kieser (Rheinisches JournalistInnenbüro, Cologne):
Wehrmacht Massacres in France
Friday, 18 June 2010, 1800h, auditorion of Volkshochschule, Bergstraße 8
Nataly Jung-Hwa Han and Tsukasa Yajima; film and multimedia presentation:
“Comfort Women” – The War Crime of Systematic Forced Prostitution by the Japanese Military (1937–1945)
Mayor Burkhard Jasper gives the welcoming address at the opening; curator Karl Rössel (Rheinisches JournalistInnenbüro) helds and opening presentation. A guided tour by the curator will be given on 9 May at 1100h.
A catalogue (444 pages with 415 photos, 29.50€) and didactic material have been published, too.
The Third World in World War II
Erich Maria Remarque-Friedenszentrum
Markt 6
49074 Osnabrück
Germany
Tu-Fr 1000-1300h, 1500-1700h
Sa/Su 1100-1700h
Volkshochschule Osnabrück
Bergstr. 8
49076 Osnabrück
Germany
Opening:
8 May 2010, 1500h
Ratssitzungssaal (Council Assembly Hall) of the historic Town Hall of Osnabrück
Markt
49074 Osnabrück
Germany
Gerne möchte ich wissen wie lange diese Ausstellung dauert in Osnabrück?
Gerard
Leider hat das Erich Maria Remarque-Friedenszentrum noch nicht die Dauer der Ausstellung publiziert. Im Normalfall dauern diese üblicherweise mindestens drei Monate. Bedenkt man die Sommermonate, so gehe ich nicht von einem Ausstellungsende vor dem September aus. Weitere Infos am besten direkt beim Erich Maria Remarque-Friedenszentrum (Kontakt siehe oben).