For the first time, three museums from Liechtenstein, Austria and Switzerland are coming together for a cross-border commemorative project. The main project partners are the Museum Prestegg in Altstätten SG, the Jewish Museum Hohenems and the Liechtenstein National Museum.
Under the joint title "Remembering together in the Rhine Valley", the focus is on three thematically linked exhibitions in Altstätten and Vaduz. Each exhibition is dedicated to a specific aspect of the years 1938 to 1945 and illuminates the regional events and personal fates from different perspectives. Together, they open up a multi-layered picture of the past and invite visitors to reflect on it critically.
What does the Second World War have to do with us today? Much more than we might think! In our project "Remembering together in the Rhine Valley", we look back at the period from 1938 to 1945 - an era full of challenges, fates and turning points that also shaped our region.
The project is more than just three exhibitions. It is an invitation to remember and to look forward together. In the Rhine Valley, in Liechtenstein and beyond, a transnational culture of remembrance is being created that transcends borders and strengthens the community.
A look into the past that moves us today
What did the war mean for the people of the Rhine Valley? What did their everyday lives look like? And what happened on the border with Switzerland, where people fleeing the horrors of the Nazis hoped to find hope? These and many other questions are the focus of three exciting exhibitions.
Food stamp November 1945 © Liechtensteinisches Landesmuseum, Photo: Sven Beham
Understanding the past
In a world characterized by conflict, flight and social tensions, one thing must not be forgotten: History. The project "Remembering together in the Rhine Valley" shows how close the events of 1938 to 1945 still are today. The stories from the Rhine Valley are not just regional history - they are a reflection of global challenges.
The Rhine Valley was by no means isolated, but was part of the drama of the Second World War. By making the fates of local people visible again, it is possible to understand how the "big story" of that time affected the personal environment of the people in the Rhine Valley and in some cases still does today.
A unifying culture of remembrance
With this international cooperation, we want to create a unifying culture of remembrance that takes up regional perspectives and places them in a global context. A joint examination of the past promotes an understanding of historical contexts and lays the foundation for peaceful coexistence in the future.
Working the land: young men mowing, from left: Jakob Wachter, Hans Walser, Hugo Gassner (later teacher and municipal archivist in Schaan, died 2009), Anton Wachter. Photo: Hans Walser, Schaan Copyright: Liechtenstein National Archives / Vaduz Source: Liechtenstein National Archives / Vaduz
A project for the future
The project shows: History is alive and more important than ever. Together we can discover regional history and use it to develop global perspectives for a more peaceful world. 80 years after the Second World War, it is not only time to remember, but also to draw inspiration for our future actions.
In a time that continues to be characterized by conflict and social polarization, the exhibitions show how important it is to learn from history. The personal dimension of the fates on display invites us to understand the past, reflect on the present and take responsibility for the future. With an innovative approach that combines historical reappraisal and modern educational communication, the exhibition is aimed particularly at young people. Interactive learning modules and personal life stories promote critical thinking and historical awareness.
For humanity, tolerance and solidarity
In times of growing mistrust, polarization and new crises, this joint project reminds us of what really matters: Cohesion, empathy and respect. By reviving regional stories, it creates a link between yesterday and today - especially for the younger generation.
Now is the time to remember - and to act!
www.gemeinsam-erinnern.ch
Museum Prestegg, Altstätten: In the shadow of war. Everyday life in the Rhine Valley
In March 1938, the people of the Rhine Valley experienced the annexation of Austria to Hitler's Greater Germany at first hand. Overnight, the Austrian-Swiss border became the German border. Switzerland reacted by deploying the Landjäger Corps in the Rhine Valley, closing bridges and fortifying them with barbed wire. Contemporary witnesses remember various aspects of everyday life in the shadow of war. In his 1938 chronicle, teacher Jakob Boesch from Berneck called the danger emanating from Nazi Germany a "dark threat". With the outbreak of the Second World War on September 1, 1939, this dark threat became reality. From 1938 to 1945, the people of the Rhine Valley went about their daily lives in a difficult time in which the threat of war was always lurking in the background. The exhibition provides insights into the lives and experiences of the people of the Rhine Valley and allows contemporary witnesses to have their say. Photographs and historical documents illustrate the challenges that had to be overcome in the shadow of war.
August 31, 2025 to January 27, 2027
"Rescuing Switzerland? Escape in the Rhine Valley"
Thousands of people - Jews, opposition activists, forced laborers and deserters - attempted to flee the German Reich across the Rhine to Switzerland between 1938 and 1945. Where they hoped to be rescued, they were often turned away or faced a years-long struggle for asylum. In August 1938 and again in August 1942, Switzerland closed its borders and only wanted to let in people passing through, if at all. Jews in particular were not to be admitted, regardless of whether they were trying to escape extermination by the Nazis and their collaborators from the German Reich, occupied France or, finally, Italy. Focusing on the Rhine Valley, the exhibition tells the stories of these people and their families who stayed behind in the context of Swiss refugee policy and describes the reactions of the population, the authorities, border police, aid organizations and escape helpers. Perhaps there are still stories and objects on the subject in the Rhine Valley that could be included in the exhibition? You are very welcome!
August 31, 2025 to January 27, 2027
www.prestegg.ch
