More soldiers from the so-called Third World fought in the Second World War than from Western Europe – more people died here than in Germany, Italy and Japan combined. The fascist Axis powers and the Allies recruited millions of auxiliary troops and labourers in their colonies – often by force. Large parts of the »Third World« served as battlefields and remained devastated after the end of the war.

However, as serious as the consequences of the Second World War were in the »Third World«, they were barely recognised in local historiography for a long time. 

The recherche international e.V. association in Cologne organised a comprehensive exhibition on this topic at the NS-DOK in 2010. It has since been shown at more than 60 locations in Germany, Switzerland, South Africa and Mozambique and will be shown again in an expanded version in Cologne on the 80th anniversary of the end of the war in Europe. For the first time, artistic reflections from Africa, Asia and Oceania on the consequences of the Second World War will also be presented. 

The accompanying programme includes lectures, readings, theatre performances and a film series with international guests as well as a hip-hop dance performance about colonial soldiers from France. You can find the full programme at: www.3www2.de

We would be happy to welcome you to the exhibition opening on 7 March at 7 pm! 

Exhibition poster © recherche international / Amado Alfadni