Networks of Memory: Infrastructures, Dependencies, and Commemorative Practices in Bavaria

Memory culture is built by both tangible and intangible elements, whose interaction is governed by formal norms and laws introduced by state agencies, as well as by unwritten conventions. While standardized processes sustain and support memory culture, underlying networks of dependency and interconnection, particularly those involving local politics and technology, play an equally crucial role. This paper aims to propose an infrastructural approach to “difficult heritage” by examining the interrelations among the components of German memory culture. While existing studies provide an overview of already erected monuments and their reception by the public (such as visitor experience studies), it reconstructs and reflects on processes from the recent past in order to identify key actors who shape the notions and directions of commemorative practices. The examples selected from Bavaria are the documentation center in Munich and commemorative initiatives in Landsberg am Lech and Kaufering. The paper identifies social infrastructures and examines how they influence the management of the material heritage of the period of National Socialism. The conclusions of the study lead to a hypothesis that memory culture in Germany should be examined as an amalgamation of various locally shaped cultures and networks. This approach would lead to an emphasis on local memory, rather than pursuing uniform practices and globalized patterns, as some researchers claim.