Nearly a century after the Nazis shut down the Bauhaus school of design, it has become a cultural battleground between Germany’s establishment and the right-wing extremist Alternative for Germany (AfD), which calls the movement an “aberration of modernism.” Founded in 1919, Bauhaus blurred the lines between art and industry and continues to influence global design. It remains a cultural icon, attracting many visitors to its school building and museum in Dessau, Saxony-Anhalt.
As Saxony-Anhalt prepares for an election, AfD aims to gain control of the state legislature for the first time since World War II. They are pushing for an absolute majority, which could reshape German politics and impact cultural freedoms.
AfD criticises Bauhaus for avoiding “any signs of national rootedness” and plans to replace the state’s advertising slogan “Think Modern” with “Think German.” In a recent parliamentary debate, AfD again denounced Bauhaus, asserting that it violates human needs for security and comfort.
While lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund tried to temper the party’s criticism, stating that Bauhaus itself isn’t the issue, he insisted that Germany’s culture and history are much broader than just Bauhaus. If AfD wins, they may cut state funding for the school.
AfD uses the very same words the Nazis used 100 years ago
The AfD has clashed with Germany’s cultural establishment, particularly Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer, who is defending the Bauhaus movement. Weimer stated in a recent interview, “The AfD is using the same rhetoric that the Nazis used 100 years ago. That is why democrats from across the political spectrum are fighting back.”
Founded 100 years ago, the Bauhaus revolutionised design and architecture, becoming a global icon. Weimer noted that the far right has historically opposed the Bauhaus, which was banned by the Nazis in 1933. He pledged that the government would continue to support the Bauhaus Foundation in Dessau, ensuring its survival even if the AfD wins in Saxony-Anhalt.
The Bauhaus, established in 1919 by Walter Gropius in Weimar and later moved to Dessau, blurred the lines between art and industry. Its influence has spread globally despite the school’s closure following the rise of the Nazis. Key figures like Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, the last Bauhaus director, emigrated to the U.S. in the late 1930s, leaving a lasting legacy in minimalist design that continues to inspire today.
Bauhaus still attracts international guests
Each year, around 150,000 visitors, including many international guests, come to Dessau to see the iconic Bauhaus building and the Bauhaus Museum, highlighting its lasting relevance. Barbara Steiner, the director of the Bauhaus Dessau Foundation, expressed support for a pro-Bauhaus manifesto initiated by culture minister Weimer, which has garnered over 2,500 signatures in response to the AfD’s critiques.
This manifesto pledges to defend the Bauhaus from anti-democratic attacks and emphasises values of openness and cultural exchange. Steiner remarked, “The AfD’s accusations are stereotypical, envisioning a Bauhaus that never existed, historically or today.”
This article used information from The Associated Press.
