As of: March 16, 2024, 7:20 a.m
By: Elisa Buhrke
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Names of former NSDAP members are removed from buildings and rooms.
“We are committed to democracy and human rights,” said the president.
Munich - The Technical University of Munich (TUM) has decided to remove the names of Nazi supporters from its buildings and rooms.
In addition, the university has announced that it is distancing itself from six honorary doctorates that were awarded during the Nazi era, as well as other honorary degrees.
This information was published by TUM on Friday, March 15th.
TUM removes names of former NSDAP members from its buildings
Thomas Hofmann, President of TUM, commissioned an independent commission of experts to investigate the history of the university.
The Presidium is now following the recommendations of this commission.
Hofmann said: “Science must not decouple itself from ethical norms and break away from its anchoring in the rule of law.
But that is exactly what was the case during the National Socialist era and is in contradiction to the TUM’s values today.”
He added: “We are committed to democracy and human rights as well as to diversity and internationality.”
The Technical University of Munich (TUM) is removing names of former NSDAP members from its buildings.
© Sven Hoppe/dpa
In particular, the names of two buildings commemorating the architect German Bestelmeyer (1874-1942) will be removed.
Bestelmeyer, who held a professorship at the TUM, then known as the Technical University of Munich, was a member of the NSDAP from 1933 and a convinced National Socialist.
The university plans to provide information about the reasons for this decision at an “appropriate location” on the main campus.
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In addition, the names of Willy Messerschmitt, Gustav Niemann, Ludwig Prandtl and Ernst Schmidt will no longer identify rooms on the Garching campus.
Instead, a “place for reflection” should be set up.
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Since, according to current legal opinion, a “formal withdrawal” of honorary degrees from deceased persons is not possible, the university has decided to distance itself from certain honorary titles.
This applies, for example, to the honorary doctorate for Fritz Todt, who was Reich Minister for Armaments and Ammunition from 1940.
Finally, TUM plans to remember former members of the university who were persecuted during the Nazi era in the future.
The corresponding memorial site is scheduled to open in July.
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