The Maltz Museum’s latest exhibition, DEGENERATE! Hitler’s War on Modern Art features famous works by Kirchner, Kandinsky, Chagall, Grosz, Picasso, and more—all labeled as “degenerate” by the Nazi regime. This world-renowned exhibition is on view at the Maltz Museum through April 20, 2025.
Of course, the rare art alone is reason enough for a visit. The Museum’s exhibition space is currently packed with amazing works. Yet the story of how the Nazis used these artworks to promote their ideology—that’s just as fascinating. The Nazis used art and culture to shape and control virtually every aspect of society. Here’s how they did it.
Gleichschaltung: Coordinating the Nazi state
When the Nazis gained control of Germany in 1933, they began systematically disbanding organizations, replacing them with Nazi-controlled groups. This effort, referred to as “Gleichschaltung” involved coordinating and synchronizing all aspects of German life to align with the values of the Nazi party. This includes everything from student and professional groups to sports, music, art, and other cultural associations.
During this effort, the Nazis zeroed in on the modern artwork of the time, which often reflected the tumultuous period following World War I. The regime claimed it weakened Germany and contributed to the moral decay of society. According to Nazi ideology, only criminals or the mentally ill could produce artwork that could be so damaging. Ultimately, the Nazis promoted the idea that modern artwork was “degenerate” or criminal behavior.
Ridding the world of “degenerate” art
For several years after Hitler was appointed chancellor, it remained unclear what type or style of art was acceptable according to the new German cultural standard. In 1937 Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels spearheaded the Degenerate Art Show in Munich to draw a line in the sand. Visitors can see footage from this event at the Maltz Museum’s exhibition.
The works weren’t merely shown at this event for public interpretation. Art was displayed and positioned in unflattering ways with quotes from Hitler and Goebbels explaining why it was unacceptable. The primary goal of this exhibition was to “educate” the public on the “art of decay” and show modernist artwork was the result of inferior, criminal minds that sought to destroy Germany. Afterward, the Nazis also had a traveling road show that visited other German cities to spread their message.
What happened to the artwork?
The Nazis removed more than 20,000 artworks from museums and private collections after the 1937 event in Munich. Some of these works were destroyed, while others were sold abroad to fund the Nazi war machine, despite the regime’s insistence that it wouldn’t use funds from these sales for warfare. In 1939, the Nazis burned more than 5,000 paintings they couldn’t sell.
The DEGENERATE! Hitler’s War on Modern Art exhibition allows visitors to see rare artworks that survived the Nazi purge—extraordinary given the regime’s destructive power. Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind look at how modern art influenced German culture and reinforced fascist designs for world domination.
Remember: DEGENERATE! Hitler’s War on Modern Art is FREE for Museum Members!
Information for this article was sourced from the Holocaust Encyclopedia, “Degenerate” Art, and background provided by the exhibition presenter, the Jewish Museum of Milwaukee.
