Labour was not only economically important during National Socialism but also a means of control and exclusion. The Nazi regime demanded labour as a "duty" towards the National Socialist "Volksgemeinschaft". Those who did not fit into the system were excluded, disenfranchised or forced into labour.
The exhibition "arbeit 1938–1945" shows how deeply the National Socialists intervened in labour relations – including in Carinthia. Companies were hierarchically restructured, workers were evaluated according to ideological criteria, and people from occupied territories were forced to work. Many had to work under inhumane conditions in agriculture or industry.
In six thematic areas, the exhibition explains how the National Socialist labour order functioned and what consequences it had for people. Digital elements encourage personal reflection and show memorial sites in Carinthia connected to the topic.
In the subsequent workshop "More than an image", participants learn to critically examine historical photographs. Images from the Nazi era often only show what the regime wanted to convey – but what really lies behind them? Who is visible, who is not? What messages were intended to be conveyed? Using images from the exhibition, participants engage with the representation of labour. Through joint analysis and discussion, a conscious approach to historical and current image sources is promoted.
Mag.a Anna Enderle is an employee of the Department of Education, Youth and Culture, Section for History, Society and Political Education, of the Arbeiterkammer Carinthia and curator of the exhibition "arbeit 1938–1945".
Course contents:
- Guided tour of the exhibition "arbeit 1938–1945"
- Photo workshop "More than an image"
- Analysis, discussion and conscious handling of image sources
