03/15/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/15/2024 02:05
TUM consistently continues to come to terms with its history during the Nazi era
As a sign of its historical responsibility, the Technical University of Munich (TUM) is removing the names of buildings and rooms that bear the names of personalities associated with Nazi history. A place of reflection will be created at a suitable location, where reference will be made to the history of the former Technische Hochschule (TH) of Munich during the Nazi era and the removal of the names will be explained. In addition, TUM is distancing itself from the six honorary doctorates, five honorary senatorial degrees, and 13 honorary citizenships awarded during the Nazi era. The Board of Management thus follows the recommendations of an independent commission of experts.
In order to continue the reappraisal of its history during the Nazi era, the President of TUM, Prof. Thomas F. Hofmann, had commissioned a commission of experts chaired by Prof. Winfried Nerdinger, the founding director of the Munich Documentation Center for the History of National Socialism, to draw up recommendations for responsible handling of the names of personalities burdened by Nazi history and to submit them to the University Board. Prof. Andreas Wirsching from LMU's Institute of Contemporary History was also involved in the study.
President Hofmann thanks the commission for its work and final report and emphasizes: "Science must not be decoupled from ethical norms and detached from its anchoring in the rule of law. However, this was precisely the case during the National Socialist era and is at odds with the values of TUM today. We are committed to democracy and human rights as well as diversity and internationality. That is why we are sending a clear signal on how to deal with the historical events associated with our university and bring them into coherence with the values practiced at TUM today."
The Board of Management acknowledges the work of the commission and has made the following decisions based on the recommendations:
On the initiative of the TUM Senior Excellence Faculty in cooperation with the TUM Center for Culture and Arts, TUM is also setting up a new place of remembrance on its main campus to commemorate members of the former TH Munich who were persecuted and dismissed by the Nazi regime. Large-format plaques on the second floor of the Arcisstrasse/corner of Gabelsbergerstrasse 17 building will once again give a face to the victims. The documentation will be opened at a public event on Tuesday, 9 July, at 4 p.m. in the Carl-von-Linde lecture hall.
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Prof. Winfried Nerdinger on the exhibition presenting TUM's history under the National Socialism