Reutlingen Police Partner with Nazi History Initiative for Democracy Training
A new partnership between the Reutlingen Police Headquarters and the Erinnerungsort Gräberfeld X initiative will deepen officers' understanding of Nazi history. The agreement, signed on March 18, 2026, marks the first such collaboration in Baden-Württemberg under a statewide police project launched in 2024. It focuses on democracy, tolerance, and the lessons of the past through exhibitions and educational programmes.
The cooperation was formalised by Police President Udo Vogel and Professor Dr. Benigna Schön Hagen, head of the Erinnerungsort Gräberfeld X initiative. Both sides highlighted the importance of the project for political education within the force. Vogel stressed that visiting memorial sites helps officers grasp the dangers of undermining the rule of law.
At the heart of the initiative is the exhibition *Unbounded Anatomy: Tübingen Science and National Socialism*. This display examines how the University of Tübingen's Anatomical Institute was entangled with the Nazi regime. Regular guided tours for police employees have already been arranged. Five officers at the Reutlingen headquarters have been trained as 'strategic sponsors' to lead the project. Their role includes organising visits to exhibitions, guest lectures, and excursions on Nazi history and its modern relevance. Schön Hagen expressed gratitude for the police's commitment, noting that the partnership ensures the exhibition's preservation beyond 2027. No other police authority in Baden-Württemberg has entered a similar agreement since the *Strategic Sponsorship for Democracy and Tolerance* project began in 2024. The initiative also offers professional development opportunities for all staff involved.
The agreement provides structured access to historical education for Reutlingen's police officers. Through guided tours, lectures, and excursions, the programme connects past atrocities to present-day policing. The partnership is set to continue long-term, with plans to extend the exhibition's impact in the coming years.
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