Exhibition: Before the Horror—Another Struthof, Lives Marked by the Seasons

This exhibition was created with the aim of raising awareness of the history of the “Struthof” site prior to the establishment of the concentration camp in 1941. This period remains relatively obscure in the collective memory. Winter sports, agricultural activities, farms, the hotel, and the villa are mentioned without always specifying their exact nature, location, or development. The annex, which would later house the gas chamber, also raises many questions. The exhibition “Before the Horror: Another Struthof” recounts the full history of a site deeply connected to the Bruche Valley. Nestled in the heart of the Vosges Mountains, “Struthof” lived for centuries in tune with mountain agriculture before the development of recreational activities beginning in the 19th century. Unpublished archival materials, historical artifacts, visual records, and conversations with the families of former owners and local residents form the backbone of this exhibition.