On Thursday 31 October 2024, the Museum Fridericianum in Kassel hosted a conference dedicated to exploring the historical, cultural, and architectural significance of the memorial site of El Alamein in Egypt. The event brought together scholars and experts to examine multiple narratives surrounding this site, focusing on its implications for memory culture in both Egypt and Germany. By addressing the intersection of history, politics, and societal remembrance, the event sought to foster a deeper understanding of how the battles of El Alamein are remembered and interpreted today. Organised in collaboration with the Orient-Institut Beirut, the Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge (German War Graves Commission), the documenta-Institut and the Landeszentrale für Politische Bildung, the evening was part of the cross-foundation lecture series "Ends of War – International Perspectives on the Second World War" initiated by the Max Weber Foundation. The programme featured three distinguished speakers offering diverse perspectives on the legacy of El Alamein: Emad Helal from Suez Canal University presented the Egyptian perspective on the battles, highlighting often overlooked local experiences and the role of Egyptian soldiers. Christian Fuhrmeister of the Central Institute for Art History in Munich addresses the importance of the El Alamein war cemetery within the context of German memory culture, while Dieter Pohl from Alpen-Adria University explored the international impact and historical significance of the battles. The evening started with opening remarks from Andreas Hoffmann, CEO of documenta and Museum Fridericianum GmbH, along with Kassel’s Mayor Sven Schoeller and Dirk Backen, Secretary General of the Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge e.V., as well as Felix Münch, Deputy Director of the Hessian State Center for Political Education. Moderated by Liliana Gómez of the University of Kassel, the event concluded with a panel discussion, providing space for an in-depth exchange of ideas and perspectives. The participants analysed the ways in which Egypt and Germany remember the battles of El Alamein, which were crucial to the course of World War II in North Africa. While these battles are widely recognised in Germany as a crucial military turning point, the Egyptian perspective, including the experiences of Egyptian soldiers, has been largely marginalised. The lectures and subsequent discussions critically examined the political and societal dimensions of this historical memory, addressing the broader question of how historical sites like El Alamein are incorporated into each country’s narrative of the past. In Germany, the war cemetery near the battlefield serves as a focal point of memory, reflecting a tradition of institutionalised commemoration. In Egypt, the legacy of El Alamein is closely intertwined with the region’s colonial history and its role in global conflicts, thereby providing a distinct framework for understanding the site’s significance. A further key focus of the evening was the architecture of the El Alamein war cemetery, constructed in the 1950s by the Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge in collaboration with the German government. Designed as a Totenburg (castle of the dead) and inspired by the medieval Castel del Monte, the cemetery embodies the memorial strategies of postwar Germany. Its austere, depersonalized architecture reflects a shift in commemorative practices, aligning with both the emerging identity of the Federal Republic and the broader tradition of imperial monumentalism. Consequently, the cemetery can be considered both a historical and architectural landmark, prompting reflection on the politics of memory and the ways in which sites of war are remembered and constructed. The event provided a valuable opportunity for international scholars to engage in critical dialogue and reflect on the shared and divergent memory cultures of Egypt and Germany. The interdisciplinary approach highlighted the necessity of revisiting historical sites in order to gain a deeper understanding of their role in shaping contemporary identities and political discourses. Events of this nature facilitate a nuanced comprehension of the World War II’s multifaceted legacies and the ways in which they continue to resonate across diverse societies and cultural contexts. As a result, they emphasize the enduring significance of memory studies in enabling cross-cultural understanding and critical engagement with the past.
For more info:
https://vimeo.com/1040409029
https://endsofwar.hypotheses.org/924
Click on any of the photos above for a full-size view