Hildesheim Exhibition Links WWII Trauma to Modern Conflicts Like Gaza

"Images of Destroyed Hildesheim Resemble Those from Gaza"

Bloom – Destruction – Rebirth: An exhibition on Hildesheim's devastation in World War II draws striking parallels to the present day.

December 17, 2025

Interview with Lara Weiss

our website: How can the 1945 bombing of Hildesheim be made tangible through a museum video installation, Ms. Weiss?

Lara Weiss: The audience sits in multiple rows on different levels, with the video installation projected onto three surrounding screens. This immerses viewers right in the middle of the action. From one side, for example, you see British pilots flying toward Hildesheim, while to the left and right, you look out the windows of their planes and see the Canadian squadrons alongside them. When you look straight ahead, you're inside the cockpit, hearing the pilots' conversations as they unfold.

our website: Are there other perspectives from which visitors experience the bombing?

Lara Weiss: The central figure in the installation is the mother of our contemporary witness, Karl Scheide. While her perspective is partly fictional, it's based on thorough research. In one scene, Karl Scheide flees to the air-raid shelter with his mother, Katharina. The viewpoint then alternates between the pilots dropping the bombs and the mother and son huddled in the cellar. The scenes are overlaid with images of the city—and individual buildings—before and after the destruction, making them vivid and deeply moving.

our website: Evoking such strong emotions can be a delicate balance. Were you concerned it might tip into voyeuristic spectacle?

Lara Weiss: We worked hard to avoid that, and I believe we succeeded. The installation begins with a historical overview of Hildesheim's past—how it experienced industrialization and the rise of the Nazis. For instance, Katharina Scheide walks through the city, recounting how a Jewish neighbor was beaten by Nazi thugs.

our website: So you also show the perspective of the regime's victims?

Lara Weiss: Absolutely. Eighty years after the war, you can't just lament the loss of a beautiful old town without acknowledging the suffering of those persecuted by the Nazis. That's why the installation shows people being rounded up for deportation. You also see Hitler parading through the city, along with regime supporters who weren't celebrating liberation but fearing what would become of them under the Allies. This multi-perspective approach was essential to us.

our website: One of the exhibition's goals was to engage younger audiences. Did it succeed?

Lara Weiss: Many school groups visited, and the discussions between students and museum educators were excellent. It's crucial to help children and teens reflect on why war is horrific and must never happen again. World War II often feels impossibly distant to them, yet many classrooms include students with firsthand experience of war or displacement. When they see images of Hildesheim in ruins, they're struck by the similarities to Gaza today. I think we've found a good balance to make these topics accessible and meaningful for them.

our website: Was there anything that particularly resonated with the young visitors?

Lara Weiss: They were horrified by the persecution of Jews. They said, "These were important citizens who contributed so much to the city."