Rosenburg exhibition: Gießen sheds light on the dark history of justice!

Rosenburg exhibition: Gießen sheds light on the dark history of justice!

On October 31, 2025, an important traveling exhibition will open at the Justus Liebig University of Giessen (JLU). Under the title “The Rosenburg – The Federal Ministry of Justice in the Shadow of the Nazi Past” the relationship of the Federal Ministry of Justice to the Nazi past of its employees is discussed. This exhibition is not only a look back at history, but also an important part of the process that was initiated by the Federal Ministry of Justice (BMJ) in 2012.

The “Rosenburg”, a country house in Bonn-Kessenich, was built in 1831 by Professor Georg August Goldfuß and served as the headquarters of the BMJ from 1950 to 1973. Many of the lawyers who helped shape the post-war justice system in the Federal Republic of Germany had already worked in the justice system before 1945. At the same time, the personal and professional ties to the Nazi ideology were significant, as more than half of the employees in the 1950s and 60s were members of the NSDAP or the SA lmu.de reported.

Exhibition details and accompanying program

The traveling exhibition will be on view at JLU until December 16, 2025. Opening hours are Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. In addition, extended opening hours from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. will be offered on three Saturdays - October 18th, November 15th and December 13th. Entry to the exhibition is free.

The opening will take place in the presence of Federal Minister of Justice Dr. Stefanie Hubig. Information about lectures and an accompanying program will be announced on the Law Department website and promise a deeper discussion of the topic.

Background of the exhibition

The exhibition was initiated by the former Federal Minister of Justice Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger and not only deals with the personnel processes within the ministry. It also highlights legislative aspects that were researched under the leadership of Professor Manfred Görtemaker and Professor Christoph Safferling from the University of Erlangen. A central issue is how to deal with Holocaust crimes, amnesties and the statute of limitations.

Professor Christian Walter from LMU emphasizes the ambivalence of law, which can function both as an instrument of protection for citizens and as an instrument of rule. This critical examination of history is an integral part of legal education at the LMU and contributes to reflection on the role of law in society. The White Rose and the House of German Law, which was founded under Hans Frank during National Socialism, are also placed in the context of the exhibition.

For further information about the exhibition and its background, please visit the website BMJV.