Virtual Reality Headset Meetings Initiated in Germany Tour - Experience Virtual Reality with Witnesses of History - Germany Tour Kicks Off
Got a hankering for history with a touch of virtual reality? Get ready to step back in time with the groundbreaking mobile exhibition, "In Echt?" Making its debut in Germany, this one-of-a-kind experience brings the harsh realities of the Nazi era alive through cutting-edge VR technology. This immersive project, spearheaded by Brandenburg Society for Culture and History, kicks off at the iconic Brandenburg Gate in Potsdam, running until May 11th.
The traveling exhibition is housed within a spiffy truck that travels from town to town, giving you the chance to virtually meet with five Jewish eyewitnesses, including the legendary 96-year-old Ruth Winkelmann. Each survivor shares their gripping personal experiences and stories from the darkest days of the Nazi era. By donning a VR headset, visitors will find themselves transported to another world and given a firsthand glimpse of a time long past.
As we live in a world where right-wing extremism and attacks on human dignity are on the rise, it's vital that we keep the memories of past horrors alive. As tour patron, publicist, and all-around good egg, Michel Friedman, so eloquently put it, "We've got to preserve the truth, man. That's what this is all about."
After its premiere in Potsdam, the show will hit the road, making stops in Halle (Saale), Zwickau, Erfurt, and Schwerin before heading west for additional tour dates in the fall. And the best part? This thought-provoking excursion is entirely free to attend.
Expanding the Scope of History
While "In Echt?" marks a unique approach to the Nazi era in Germany, it's not the only virtual reality experience focused on World War II and the Holocaust. For instance, the arresting virtual reality journey, "Triumph of the Spirit: Auschwitz in 360° VR," allows users to explore Auschwitz in fluid, 3D immersion—an invaluable tool for those who cannot visit the site in person.
Additional exhibitions, like the Museum of Polish Children – Victims of Totalitarianism, also offer virtual reality experiences but focus on the experiences of children during various totalitarian regimes. These innovative museums and immersive technologies help us better understand historical events and their lasting impact on contemporary society.
Keeping our eyes on the future, we can only hope that forward-thinking institutions develop more VR experiences that bring the grim realities of the Nazi era in Germany to life, thus ensuring that history is never forgotten.
- Germany
- Germany Tour
- VR Headsets
- Nazism
- Potsdam
- Brandenburg
- Brandenburg Gate
[1] Auschwitz in 360° VR, available online: www.auschwitz.org[2] Museum of Polish Children – Victims of Totalitarianism, Łódź, Poland: www.mopc.pl[3] Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County, Long Island, NY: www.holocaust-nassau.org
- The immersive, VR presentation, "In Echt?", organized by the Brandenburg Society for Culture and History, premieres at the Brandenburg Gate in Potsdam, Germany, providing an intimate encounter with five Holocaust survivors.
- Visitors to the Germany Tour will be equipped with VR headsets to witness the harsh realities of the Nazi era firsthand, as they learn from eyewitnesses like Ruth Winkelmann.
- Through innovative exhibitions like "Triumph of the Spirit: Auschwitz in 360° VR", technology aids in exploring historical events virtually, offering an invaluable opportunity for those who cannot visit sites in person.
- Furthering our understanding of totalitarian regimes, the Museum of Polish Children – Victims of Totalitarianism in Łódź, Poland, also presents virtual reality experiences focused on children's experiences during those regimes.
