Nazi-Era Bronze Horse Controversy: Berlin’s Debate Over Handling Controversial Cultural Heritage

Berlin, Germany, 2025—The recovery of two Nazi-era "Stepping Horse" bronze statues in October has ignited a fierce debate over how to preserve controversial historical artifacts. The statues, once displayed outside Berlin’s Reich Chancellery, were evacuated during WWII, modified during East Germany’s era, and finally found in a private warehouse. They now feature in the exhibition "Unveiled: Berlin and Its Monuments," exploring the city’s complex memorial history.

Berlin’s city government revised the statues’ inscriptions: the 1937 original (praising "Aryan strength") was replaced with text explaining their Nazi origins and later modifications. However, tensions remain: neo-Nazi groups protested the "de-Nazification" of the artifacts, while Jewish community leaders called for their complete destruction. Dr. Mark Weber, director of Berlin Free University’s Memory Studies Center, argues for "critical commemoration": "Displaying them with context educates the public about history, rather than erasing it."

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