OPENING OF EXHIBITION “OPPOSING HITLER BY FOREIGN POLICY” AT THE WHITE PALACE

Belgrade, 23 May 2009 – Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine and H.E. Mr. Wolfram Josef Maas, Ambassador of Federal Republic of Germany to Serbia, officially opened today an exhibition “Ulrich von Hassell: Opposing Hitler by Foreign Policy” at the White Palace.

Ulrich von Hassell (1881-1944) was one of the leaders of the German opposition against Hitler. From the summer of 1939, and after the outbreak of World War Two, he tried to provide the voice of “the other Germany” to be heard outside of the country, and to establish a bridge with the free world. Von Hassel was actively involved in the preparations of the 20 July, 1944 plot to assassinate Hitler, and he was arrested and executed. From 1930 to 1932, von Hassell was posted to the German Embassy in Belgrade, and his experience from that period are in his diary, letters and other personal notes.

In his speech the Crown Prince emphasized: “It is my great pleasure that I can, together with the German Ambassador, host an exhibition dedicated to a great opponent of the Hitler’s regime. Also, it’s very important that this exhibition has a part showing the period Ulrich von Hassell spent in Belgrade. In that period he met and made friends with my grandfather HM King Alexander I. I sincerely hope that this is just one of the many projects we are going to develop with the German Embassy”.

This exhibition, which was prepared by Dr Ulrich Schlie and Dr Stephanie Salzmann, with the support of German Embassy in Belgrade, will be open till 6 June 2009.