The 14th. March 2023 became the small exhibition “Glocken zu Kanonen. Bell seizure and restoration in Bavaria 1917–1922” opened in the Bavarian Main State Archive. The exhibition was developed as part of the current archiving training for the 3rd level of qualifications at the University of Applied Sciences in Bavaria (HföD).

Bells have shaped our everyday life as a clock generator for centuries. In their ornamental and sound art, they testify not only to the worship of God and the saints, but also to the craftsmen of their founders. In the First World War, about one third of the Bavarian bells were crushed and melted to cover the metal requirements of the armaments industry. Despite these massive losses, the “Glockenland Bayern” succeeded better than other countries of the German Reich to preserve its bell stock as far as possible and in particular to preserve historical bells from destruction.

The exhibition is dedicated to the processes and actors of bell events during the First World War in Bavaria. Finally, the question of state compensation or restoration of bells after the end of the war. The exhibits originate mainly from the collections of the Bavarian Main State Archives, the city archives Augsburg and Rosenheim have provided digitalisate.


accompanying exhibition is a leaflet available on this page under 'Family files' and under https://www.gda.bayern.de/publikationen/lehrausstellungen-der-bayerischen-archivschule/ available for download.

The exhibition can be visited from 14 March to 4 April 2023 in the Bavarian Main State Archives (Treppenhaus, 1st OG), Schönfeldstraße 5, 80539 Munich.

Opening hours: Monday to Thursday 8.30 – 18.00, Friday 8.30 – 13.30.

Guided tours for groups can be found under oeffentigkeitsarbeit@gda.bayern.de to be agreed.

Posted on 13. March 2023