Photo: Ouriel Morgensztern © Heidi Horten Collection
“I am proud, with my collection and the construction of the museum, to have created something lasting, which future generations will also be able to experience when they visit my museum and take joy in the art that has given me such joy for so long.”
Heidi Goëss-Horten
The Heidi Horten Collection was unveiled in June 2022, fulfilling the wish of its founder, Heidi Goëss-Horten (1941–2022), to make her internationally renowned art collection permanently accessible to the public. Following the death of her first husband, Helmut Horten, in 1987, Ms. Goëss-Horten inherited a portion of his estate, given they had been married since 1966. As a result, her collection and personal history are intricately connected with his.
Between 1936 and 1939, Helmut Horten acquired a number of department stores previously owned by Jewish individuals. Horten consciously accepted or, as the case may be, deliberately exploited the difficult circumstances faced by these former owners. Additionally, he obtained shares in two companies in the armaments industry, where he held the position of managing director and authorized the use of forced labor. Helmut Horten took advantage of the specific circumstances of the unjust regime of the time and derived financial gain from it. The business ventures he pursued during those years laid the groundwork for the enormous wealth that the Horten Group would later amass in post-war Germany in the 1950s and 1960s.
Until recently, there was a lack of scholarly documentation shedding light on the origins of the Helmut Horten fortune during the Nazi era. In 2019, while planning the Heidi Horten Collection, Heidi Goëss-Horten commissioned Prof. Dr. Peter Hoeres, a German contemporary historian and Chair of Modern History at the University of Würzburg, to conduct a scholarly reappraisal of the economic roots of her husband Helmut Horten. The assessment “Über den Vermögens- und Geschäftsaufbau von Helmut Horten im Kontext der ‘Arisierung’ in der Zeit der ‘Dritten Reiches’” (“On Helmut Horten’s asset and business development in the context of ‘Aryanization’ during the ‘Third Reich’”), by Prof. Dr. Peter Hoeres in collaboration with Dr. Maximilian Kutzner, was presented at several press conferences in 2022 and published on the website of the Helmut Horten Foundation (Agno, Switzerland). The above-mentioned report can serve as a foundational resource for a more in-depth and nuanced analysis of Helmut Horten as an individual.
To date, there has been a noticeable lack of proactive, transparent, and open communication regarding the initial research findings on the accumulation of wealth by Helmut Horten.
The Heidi Horten Collection, which is legally and financially independent of the Helmut Horten Foundation in Agno, Switzerland, understands the weight of the historical responsibility that comes with the Horten name. As management and staff of the museum, we recognize the moral imperative to confront this aspect of history head-on and deeply regret not having done so earlier. Through our work at the museum, we seek to demonstrate this leadership.
A respectful approach to history involves a willingness to learn from the past and to take responsibility for the present and the future. The Heidi Horten Collection's activities are responsive to current socio-political developments and aim to engage a broad public on issues such as freedom, democracy, tolerance, and diversity. Our inclusive outreach programs provide people from all walks of life with new opportunities for cultural participation and action. Additionally, the collection's extensive program for schoolchildren focuses on teaching relevant issues and democratic values to the younger generation.
Museums are vital pillars of an open society, serving as hubs for knowledge transfer and discourse. For the Heidi Horten Collection, given its unique history, this holds especially true.
Historical Responsibility
The Heidi Horten Collection – explained in Easy Language
The Heidi Horten Collection is an art museum in Vienna, Austria.
The museum opened in June 2022.
It was founded by Heidi Goëss-Horten.
She lived from 1941 to 2022.
She wanted all people to see her art collection.
That is why the museum was opened.
Who was Helmut Horten?
Heidi Goëss-Horten was married to Helmut Horten.
He was her first husband.
Helmut Horten died in 1987.
He was a very rich man.
Heidi got part of his money after his death.
She used this money to buy many works of art.
Why is Helmut Horten’s story difficult?
Helmut Horten earned a lot of money during the time of National Socialism (1933–1945).
Between 1936 and 1939, he bought many department stores.
These stores were taken away from Jewish people.
This was very wrong and unfair.
The Jewish owners were in great danger and had to sell their stores.
They were forced to sell because they were Jewish.
Helmut Horten also traded weapons.
These weapons were made with forced labour.
The workers had to work under terrible conditions.
Helmut Horten became rich from these things.
Later, he became even richer.
What has been researched?
For a long time, people did not look closely at how Helmut Horten made his money.
In 2019, Heidi Goëss-Horten asked a historian to do research.
His name is Prof. Dr. Peter Hoeres.
He works at the University of Würzburg in Germany.
He wrote a report with another historian.
The report explains:
→ How Helmut Horten made his fortune
→ What happened during the Nazi era
→ Why this history must be seen critically
The report was published in 2022.
It can be read on the website of the Helmut Horten Foundation.
This foundation is based in Agno, Switzerland.
How does the museum deal with this history?
The Heidi Horten Collection is not part of the Helmut Horten Foundation.
It is legally and financially independent.
But the museum knows:
The name Horten is connected to a difficult history.
The museum says:
We should have spoken about this history earlier.
We did not.
We are sorry for that.
Now we want to speak about the past in an open and honest way.
This is our responsibility.
It is also important for our work as a museum.
What is the museum’s goal?
The museum stands for these values:
• Freedom
• Democracy
• Tolerance
• Diversity
The museum wants everyone to learn something.
That is why there are special programmes for many different people.
For example:
→ For school classes
→ For people with little money
→ For people who do not often visit museums
The museum wants to:
→ Show the past
→ Talk about the present
→ Help shape the future
Why are museums important?
Museums are places to learn.
Museums can help make society open and free.
The Heidi Horten Collection wants to be a good example – especially because of its special history.