Criticism under National Socialism.
Cologne Cases 1934 -1944

How did the Nazi regime react to criticism within the population, which remained a characteristic of Nazi society despite the violent enforcement of the Nazi dictatorship and the elimination of political opposition? Using exemplary cases, you can explore and compare the different reactions to open opposition, collective discontent, private grumbling and public criticism.

This historical perspective on the significance of criticism within Nazi society is contrasted with the cultural interpretation and establishment of the term "resistance" in the post-war period and in particular through a major exhibition in 1974.

How will we remember Nazi history in the future - the diversity in dealing with criticism in Nazi society, but also the courage and suffering of the people who stood up to the Nazi regime? This question concludes with a reflective look at our perception today.

Duration
2 hours

Costs
60 € for pupils
All of our educational tours are free of charge for schools based in Cologne.

For whom
This workshop is suitable for school classes from year 10 and older.

Languages
We offer this workshop only in German. 

Antifeminism - a Political Agenda

“Feminism is no longer needed!” 

At least that’s what antifeminist actors claim – and categorically reject feminism as a unified enemy. Antifeminism manifests itself in diverse ways. It pursues a political agenda of restriction and hindrance to participation. 

In this workshop, you will learn about the ideology and diverse manifestations of antifeminism. In small groups, you can explore the central aspects of "prevention of co-determination" and "queer hostility" from a historical and contemporary perspective. You will discuss current references and possible paths to a more open, gender-equitable future together.

Duration
2.5 hours

Costs
75 € for pupils
All of our educational tours are free of charge for schools based in Cologne.

For whom
This workshop is suitable for school classes from year 10 and older.

Languages
We offer this workshop only in German. 

Remembering and forgetting – collectively and individually: What do we want to remember? What is important to us as a society – what is important to me personally? How is public memory shaped by the monuments in the urban space?

The workshop asks questions that participants reflect on: through various general impulses in the introductory phase – on the way to small groups at various memorials in the urban space – during the final presentation and discussion in the plenum.

The discussion about the statue of Wilhelm II, the Stumbling Stones in the city, the EL-DE-Haus, the public commemoration of Edith Stein and the remembrance of the NSU attack in the Probsteigasse are very different facets of the culture of remembrance that will be addressed in the workshop.

Please bring your own smartphones for navigation and further information as you make your way through the city in small groups.

Duration
3 hours

Costs
90 €
All of our educational tours are free of charge for schools based in Cologne.

For whom
This workshop is suitable for school classes from year 11 upwards and adult groups.

Languages
We offer this workshop only in German. 

Register your school class here.

Book a workshop for an adult group here.

The Museum School Cologne is staffed by a teacher who works with school classes in the EL-DE House on Mondays. Classes with special thematic interests in National Socialism, pupils with special needs or from primary schools are particularly welcome. Appointments are made by personal arrangement.

Further information can be found here.

Duration
By arrangement (1-3 hours)

Costs
25€

For whom
This workshop is suitable for school classes. The group size can be arranged individually.

Languages
We offer this workshop only in German. 

In the history lab, participants work in small groups to trace the footsteps of various witnesses using different objects and numerical codes. Perspectives on youth during the National Socialist era will be opened up and then presented in more detail in the plenary session.

The participants will deal with biographies and significant situations from the lives of different people. They will learn more about the Hitler Youth, school and life during the war, about enthusiasm for the NS regime and about non-conformist behaviour as well as racist persecution and exploitation.

This programme also includes a tour of the memorial and parts of the permanent exhibition in addition to working in the history lab.

Duration
2.5 hours

Costs
€ 75 (plus admission)
All of our educational tours are free of charge for schools based in Cologne.

For whom
This workshop is suitable for school classes from year 9 and older.

Languages
We offer this workshop only in German. 

Participants will go on a journey of discovery in the history lab: The small groups will have to find various objects and crack locked codes in order to solve the puzzle. The hints lead to reports of antisemitism, discrimination and racism.

The participants will have to deal with various forms of discrimination, but also with dimensions of solidarity and will discuss the significance of the National Socialist mechanisms of marginalisation and persecution for today.

This programme also includes a tour of the memorial and parts of the permanent exhibition in addition to working in the history laboratory.

Duration
2.5 hours

Costs
€ 75 (plus admission)
All of our educational tours are free of charge for schools based in Cologne.

For whom
This workshop is suitable for school classes from year 9 and older.

Languages
We offer this guided tour only in German. 

We take an interactive approach to the issue of antisemitism in this workshop: Together we will develop an understanding of what antisemitism is, in what ways it appears, how antisemitism is communicated and what functions it fulfils. We will also focus on the question of what impact this is having on those subjected to it. We will do this by working with personal testimonies that open up empathetic approaches and prompt discussions about options for implementing action against antisemitism.

Duration
3 hours

Venue
Can be held at the NS-Documentation Centre, in your school or in a facility in Cologne

Costs
This workshop is free-of-charge for organisations based in Cologne.

For whom
This workshop is suitable for school classes from year 9 or older as well as other youth and adult groups.

Different in-depth options and other focal areas are always possible by prior arrangement. Please feel free to contact us.

Antisemitism under the guise of "criticising Israel"

In this workshop, we will build on what we learnt in our antisemitism workshop and focus on the society in Israel and the so-called Middle-East conflict. How can criticism of Israel be distinguished from antisemitism? How can antisemitism with reference to Israel be understood? We will find answers to these questions with the help of images, hip-hop texts and comments from social media.

Duration
At least 2 hours

Venue
Can be held at the NS-Documentation Centre, in your school or in a facility in Cologne.

Costs
This workshop is free-of-charge for organisations based in Cologne.

For whom
This workshop is suitable for school classes from year 9 and older as well as other youth and adult groups.

Different in-depth options and other focal areas are always possible by prior arrangement. Please feel free to contact us.

Elements of human rights and racism and their interconnections will be examined in this workshop. Participants will learn how to recognise their own position and that of other participants. They will be invited to familiarise themselves with different forms and levels of racism and to reflect on their own images and stereotypes.

Duration
3 hours

Venue
In your school or at the NS-Documentation Centre

Costs
This workshop is free-of-charge to schools based in Cologne.

For whom
This workshop is conceptualised for groups from year 7/8 and older and can only be booked by schools based in Cologne.

In this workshop, the participants discuss the question of what discrimination and racism are and where we encounter them. Different forms and levels of these phenomena will be discussed; the participants will reflect on their own images and stereotypes and talk about possible measures that can be implemented against racism and discrimination in schools and in everyday life will also.

Duration
3 hours

Venue
In your school or at the NS-Documentation Centre.

Costs
This workshop is free-of-charge to schools based in Cologne.

For whom
This workshop is conceptualised for groups from year 9 and older and can only be booked by schools based in Cologne.

In this workshop, the participants will acquire an understanding of the basic ideological components of extreme right-wing worldviews. Using historical as well as current events and actors, they will reflect on the effects right-wing positions have on the general public, their own attitude towards them and possible measures for action.

Duration
3 hours

Venue
In your school or at the NS-Documentation Centre

Costs
This workshop is free-of-charge to schools based in Cologne.

For whom
This workshop is conceptualised for groups from year 9 and older and can only be booked by schools based in Cologne.

This workshop is conceptualised for people who have experienced racism is about strengthening and exchanging ideas in a “safe space”. Categorising experiences of racism and finding both personal and collective ways of dealing with them is part of the strengthening process. The aim of the empowerment workshop is to provide a place in which experiences can be shared and strategies exchanged.

Duration
3 hours

Venue
In your school or at the NS-Documentation Centre

Costs
This workshop is free-of-charge to schools based in Cologne.

For whom
This workshop is conceptualised solely for Black, Indigenous and People of Colour and is conducted by them. This workshop is aimed solely at groups from year 9 and older based in Cologne.