Bells to cannons

On 14 March 2023, the small exhibition "Bells to Cannons. Bell Confiscation and Restoration in Bavaria 1917-1922" opened at the Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv (Bavarian Main State Archives). The exhibition was developed as part of the currently ongoing archivist training for the 3rd qualification level at the Bavarian Civil Service College (HföD).

Bells have shaped our everyday life as clocks for centuries. In their ornamental and sonorous art, they bear witness not only to the veneration of God and the saints, but also to the craftsmanship of their founders. During the First World War, about a third of Bavarian bells were smashed and melted down to meet the metal needs of the armaments industry. Despite these massive losses, the "bell country of Bavaria" succeeded better than other states of the German Reich in preserving its bell stock as far as possible and in particular in saving historic bells from destruction.

The exhibition is dedicated to the processes and actors involved in the expropriation of bells during the First World War in Bavaria. Finally, the question of state compensation or restoration of the bells after the end of the war is addressed. The exhibits are mainly from the holdings of the Bavarian Main State Archives, the city archives of Augsburg and Rosenheim have provided digital copies.

Last edited on 27.10.2023