Featured photo: “a historical (Nazi) perpetrator”
Let's first let an employee paid by the city have his say. In any case, the fact that we as independent voters have received an answer is commendable. I have been waiting in vain for years for one or another request from citizens or associations.
While I was waiting, I learned two things: firstly, that we, the citizens of Heilbronn, are not entitled to an answer, as this is only the right of local councillors (one of the reasons why I wanted to become a city councillor), and secondly, that Heilbronn local councillors also consider themselves lucky when they receive an answer from the city administration.
But now to the official response from the city of Heilbronn.
The Free Voters’ request mixes two separate issues: The handling of OBM Dr. Hans Hoffmann and the portrait gallery in the town hall. This includes portraits of mayors from more than three centuries up to the present day. The portraits embody the political tradition and continuity of the former imperial city and are a commitment to "good" political action. The concept also includes views of the city with the destruction and reconstruction of Heilbronn. It would be wrong to give up this low-threshold presentation that is tailored to the location.
The second aspect concerns the handling of historical (Nazi) perpetrators. Various approaches are currently being discussed with an open mind. Storing the portrait of Dr. Hoffmann in a magazine would be tantamount to removing it from public consciousness and preventing a debate. This enables contextualization on site, it provides information and encourages engagement with historical topics and people. It can be adapted and expanded as further findings become available (see also the statement from the Heilbronn City Archives).
In general, the focus on one image is disproportionate in relation to the city's history and the overall presentation.
Speaking of sales: It is not without reason that collecting and preserving art and artifacts is a public task that imposes high hurdles on selling them. In addition, such portraits have no actual market value.
Department III, Municipal Museums (13.6.2024)
I can only be grateful to the city for making us aware that we are mixing two separate issues. However, I was fully aware of this beforehand and there are actually three different issues.
Now to the claim of the city of Heilbronn, namely that the portrait gallery in the town hall … includes mayoral portraits from more than three centuries up to the present. As far as I know, the portrait of the mayor Heinrich Valid, Nazi, SA man and convicted murderer, who was released after almost five years in prison and then earned merits in Heilbronn wine-growing, should not be hanging in the town hall.
Now you might ask yourself what exactly the difference is between an SS man and an SA man. And whether the lack of one of these portraits is due to the proven murder, which has been atoned for and therefore should no longer play a role.
In any case, one must now ask oneself not only what the city administration means by political tradition and Continuity of the former imperial city, but also by “good” political action!
I remain convinced that portrait galleries are completely out of place in town halls, as they present a completely false image of democracy. Portrait galleries belong in castles or museums, and even in archives!
And for very pragmatic reasons — which I have already mentioned in another article — one should ask oneself the question, at least if one does not rely on wars or natural disasters as a solution to the problem, how long there will be room for such portraits in the town hall?
What is disturbing is the city's claim that storing Dr. Hoffmann's portrait in a magazine would be tantamount to removing it from public consciousness and would prevent a debate.
Following this claim, one should especially today (!) draw the portrait Heinrich ValidNail it straight to the entrance portal of the town hall! So that at least every local councillor and perhaps one or two municipal employees or officials could once engage in "good" political action - by the way, the majority of Heilbronn residents probably still don't care! But not the relatives of those persecuted by the Nazi regime and not those democrats who are still interested in democracy.
I don't understand what the city is trying to tell us with the following sentence: "In general, the focus on a portrait is disproportionate in relation to the city's history and the overall presentation." It would have to be explained to me in more detail. As an old "administrative expert" I fear that the tail is trying to wag the dog here. But it could also just be that this is local council German and the mayor is ordering the local councillors to finally shut up.
The end of the letter is funny, too, where we are told that "these portraits have no actual market value." I had no idea that there were so many art and market experts in the town hall.
The less well-off Heilbronn residents might ask themselves why we are spending money on this at all or whether the money could not be used better. A former imperial city obligation, whatever that may be, does not currently provide sufficient housing for all Heilbronn residents, let alone that all "former imperial city residents" can lead a halfway decent existence.
Heilbronn residents with a more democratic disposition might well enjoy the empty walls, which could be used for a living democracy. Theme: education, school and children's city.
And the somewhat more progressive “Knowledge and Space City of Heilbronn” would rather see the future in the town hall than a dusty past that the majority no longer knows what to do with.
Finally, let us return to the market value of the portraits. Helmut Himmelbach I would even bid for him, as I believe he was the only good mayor of the city that I still know.
And the portrait of Dr. Hans Hoffmann I don't worry at all, because Nazi memorabilia is traded worldwide.
Well, in my opinion there are numerous problems that are far more important to the citizens and that the Heilbronn City Hall should be worrying about. But hey, the moral impact is enormous, the practical benefit is small.
I agree with you, but not a single person in the town hall should have worried about it. They could have simply left the gentlemen behind and everything would have been fine. But the town hall is not even capable of doing that.
It would be almost interesting to know why they even bothered and went to the trouble of answering. Especially in relation to the other, previously unanswered inquiries. My experience is that most people felt personally attacked by an inquiry. But yes, enough speculation.
The reference to the three centuries of tradition and continuity is very nice. As far as I know, the mayor has only been elected in free, general elections for about 75 years. Before that, the number of "citizens" eligible to vote was rather small, meaning that he was either chosen externally or chosen in some other way. Perhaps the portraits are intended to be an indication that people would like to continue to hold on to the more than 225-year-old tradition of cronyism.
Regardless of this: how about limiting the space for portraits to, say, five? No one in the educational metropolis of Heilbronn can see more than five anyway. If a former mayor is to be included in the gallery because of his or her achievements, another portrait must make way. This would be the opportunity for the respective local council to show what should be considered "good" political action in the respective times.
Thank you for this tip and the constructive idea. We citizens are still more understanding, more willing to compromise and more solution-oriented than any local councillor.