The Museum Appropriation of German Cultural Heritage: A Case Study of Allenstein/Olsztyn

The article examines the contested legacy of German cultural heritage in regions such as Warmia and Masuria, which now belong to Poland. After the Second World War, these areas were transformed through destruction, re-Polonization and the erasure of German identity. Cultural artifacts were looted, destroyed or reinterpreted to fit Poland’s nationalist narratives, as exemplified by the museum in Olsztyn. However, recent efforts have been aimed at overcoming these divisions by recognizing the common multicultural history of these regions. The article calls for a more inclusive approach to cultural heritage, which takes into account complexity and promotes dialogue, rather than maintaining narrow national perspectives.