In 1974, a major exhibition in Cologne explored the topic of “previously unexamined resistance” against the Nazi dictatorship. It presented the city's “strongest resistance groups” to show that in Cologne there had been “resistance all over at a local level”. The exhibition was a great success, creating the basis for a critical reappraisal of Cologne's Nazi past.

Fifty years later, the NS-DOK is rededicating itself to this important topic, but from a different perspective. In light of recent research into Nazi society, using the city of Cologne as an example, this exhibition looks at the forms and significance of criticism under the Nazi dictatorship: what place in Nazi society was criticism given by those
in power? How did they respond to open dissent and collective discontent, to private grumblings or public expressions of “criticism”? How did the people of Cologne react to this and what were the consequences of being critical?

© oblik identity design / Jörn Neumann