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Objects. History. Stories.

“Mining is not the work of one man” — Ralf Kusmierz reflects on the tradition of miners

30 September 2026 2 Min.

The exhibition “Objects. History. Stories. Reviewing the Collection” presents around 200 selected objects from the collections of the Deutsches Historisches Museum – items that not only trace the larger movements of history but, above all, make visible the personal stories connected to them.

In this video interview, Ralf Kusmierz, who worked as an overman (supervisor) at Germany’s last hard coal mine, Prosper-Haniel in Bottrop, explains the symbolism and significance of the miners’ traditional dress – and the role played in it by their patron saint, Saint Barbara.

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The Author

Simon Sacha

Simon Sacha was an academic trainee in the Collections Department and has been working as a project assistant on the exhibition "Portraits of German History" (working title) at the Deutsches Historisches Museum since September 2026.

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Objects. History. Stories.

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