A remarkable collection of sculptures discovered during subway construction work near Berlin's Red City Hall in 2010 is now on display at the Petri Archaeology Center, marking their first exhibition in Berlin in 15 years. The 16 artifacts, which were found buried in World War II bomb rubble, represent an extraordinary archaeological find that sheds light on the Nazi regime's systematic persecution of modern art.

The small but significant exhibition focuses exclusively on these sculptures, which were among thousands of artworks confiscated by the Nazi regime and labeled as "degenerate art." Two of the recovered pieces were actually displayed in the infamous 1937 Munich propaganda exhibition that aimed to ridicule modern artistic movements. According to a document discovered in 2011, most of these confiscated works from public collections were stored on the fourth floor of a building at Königsstraße 50.

While the National Socialists sold many confiscated artworks to generate foreign currency or simply destroyed them, these particular sculptures were preserved for use in so-called "educational exhibitions" – propaganda presentations designed to demonstrate what the regime considered inappropriate art. The works had been considered missing since 1937 and were likely stored at Königsstraße 50 until the building's destruction during a bombing raid in 1944.

State archaeologist Matthias Wemhoff, who has supervised the scientific study of the find since its discovery, explained that only fire-resistant materials survived the blaze that destroyed the building. Hundreds of other artworks, including paintings that must have been stored in the same location, were completely destroyed in the fire. Wemhoff noted that this outcome mirrors what archaeologists often observe in ancient contexts – only materials that can withstand fire survive catastrophic events.

The archaeologist emphasized the contemporary relevance of this discovery during the exhibition's presentation at the Petri Center, stating that archaeology doesn't only deal with distant times but also with the 20th century. This find demonstrates how archaeological methods can illuminate relatively recent historical events and recover lost cultural heritage from periods of systematic persecution.

The objects are expected to remain on display at the Petri Center for approximately one year. For the future, plans are still in development for an "Archaeological Window" at the original discovery site, which would allow visitors to view the foundations of the old city hall. As a complement to this planned installation, there are discussions about creating a permanent exhibition featuring the Berlin sculpture find in the basement of the Red City Hall, which would provide a more comprehensive context for these recovered artworks and their historical significance.