• Memorial to the Victims of National Socialism in Düsseldorf
Since 1987, the Düsseldorf »Stadthaus« has been home to the »Düsseldorf Memorial«, which is dedicated to all victims of National Socialism from Düsseldorf. The same building housed the Düsseldorf police between 1926 and 1934 as well as the 20th SS-Standarte, the local army garrison department and many other municipal offices from 1934 on.
Image: Düsseldorf, about 1927, Mühlenstraße 29, Stadtarchiv Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf, about 1927, Mühlenstraße 29, Stadtarchiv Düsseldorf

Image: Düsseldorf, 1989, View into the cellar of the memorial with the sculpure »Victim« by , Walter Klein
Düsseldorf, 1989, View into the cellar of the memorial with the sculpure »Victim« by , Walter Klein
The building in Düsseldorf's Mühlenstraße 29, built at the end of the 17th century by Jesuits, was home to the Düsseldorf police headquarters between 1926 and 1934. In December 1933, the 20th SS-Standarte (a regimental command of the SS) moved into the building, yet it had to leave in September 1935. From 1934 on, other municipal offices moved to Mühlenstraße, including the central workers' office, the statistical and electoral office, the local authority real estate office and the city police. In 1935, the local army garrison department also moved into the building. All of these offices significantly supported the National Socialist regime, apart from pursuing their usual tasks: they registered Jews as well as Sinti and Roma in the region of Düsseldorf, they helped implement the »Aryanisation« of Jewish property, they laid off Jewish employees from all public offices and administered the deployment of forced labourers.
Image: Düsseldorf, about 1927, Mühlenstraße 29, Stadtarchiv Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf, about 1927, Mühlenstraße 29, Stadtarchiv Düsseldorf

Image: Düsseldorf, 1989, View into the cellar of the memorial with the sculpure »Victim« by , Walter Klein
Düsseldorf, 1989, View into the cellar of the memorial with the sculpure »Victim« by , Walter Klein
The administrative building in Mühlenstraße 29 was not a site at which people were tortured or killed, it was a perpetrators' site: Various offices and departments were located here that made the National Socialist crimes possible. They participated in the persecution of political opponents, Jews, Sinti and Roma, forced labourers, homosexuals, mentally ill people and deserters.
Image: Düsseldorf, 2008, Entrance to the memorial, Mahn- und Gedenkstätte Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf, 2008, Entrance to the memorial, Mahn- und Gedenkstätte Düsseldorf
After 1945, municipal offices were once again housed in the building, which was now called »Stadthaus« (town house). The Düsseldorf city council decided to establish a memorial site on the initiative of various youth organisations. The Düsseldorf Memorial and its permanent exhibition were opened on September 17, 1987. The permanent exhibition is entitled »Persecution and Resistance in Düsseldorf 1933-1945«.
Image: Düsseldorf, 2009, Educational work with youths, Mahn- und Gedenkstätte Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf, 2009, Educational work with youths, Mahn- und Gedenkstätte Düsseldorf

Name
Mahn- und Gedenkstätte für die Opfer des Nationalsozialismus in Düsseldorf
Address
Mühlenstraße 29
40213 Düsseldorf
Phone
+49 (0)211 899 620 5
Fax
+49 (0)211 892 913 7
Web
https://www.duesseldorf.de/mahn-und-gedenkstaette.html
E-Mail
gedenkstaette@duesseldorf.de
Open
Sunday and Tuesday to Friday: 11.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
Saturday: 1.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m.
Possibilities
Guided tours, readings, lectures, educational offer, film screenings, excursions