 |
|
||
 |
|||
|
|
||
| Kultur und Geschichte
Gehörloser e.V.
|
|||
 |
Symposium
Friday and Saturday, June 3rd, 4th 2005 An art exhibition with paintings from Rudolf Werner, the famous deaf painter from Wuppertal, is open for viewing during the entire symposium. His pictures display Deaf people’s growth of confidence during the last two decades. Lothar Scharf will present various original documents and items from the period of Nazi-Germany. He is the author of the recently published book: „Gehörlose in der Hitlerjugend und Taubstummenanstalt Bayreuth“ (Deaf in the Hitler Youth and Institute for Deaf and Dumb in Bayreuth). A display from Prof. Renate Fischer, University of Hamburg, will be set up with pictures and documents from the Israeli Institute for the Deaf and Dumb in Berlin (1873-1942) and of deaf Jews in earlier Germany. These materials are taken from Nicola Galliner and her group’s research from Berlin.
Helmut Vogel (Hamburg) and Jochen Muhs (Berlin) World War II was one of the cruelest wars in human history. During 1939 -1945 German troops, under the German dictator, Hitler, and his supporters, ravaged through most parts of Europe producing a lot of suffering. They left behind massive destruction in Eastern Europe in particular. In 1943 the allied forces stopped the German advance and succeeded in pushing them back. The German people suffered from the ruin and desolation the Nazis left behind. Bombs had destroyed many cities. Millions of Germans, who lived in former eastern Germany, left their homes for fear of the approaching Red Army. When World War II ended on May 8th, 1945, Germany and Europe were released from Nazi tyranny. More than 50 million people died as a result of the war. Experiences of deaf people who lived during Nazi-time will be discussed in this seminar. We will talk about the organization of the federations of the Deaf after forced conformance, experiences in the Hitler Youth and the consequences of racism (persecution of Jews, forced sterilisation and euthanasia), and finally we will talk about how the Nazi-past was handled after the war. Mark Zaurov (Hamburg) The Holocaust, organized and executed by Nazi-Germans, was an industrialized destruction of Europe’s Jews. It cost six million lives, six thousand of which were Deaf. This cruelty was eventually stopped by the allies 60 years ago. The Holocaust marks a break in the history of the German-Jewish relationship and likewise marks a low point in the relations between Jewish Deaf Germans and Deaf Germans. It is important to mention that Deaf Jewish Germans helped to build REGEDE (Federation of the Deaf in earlier Germany) and were excluded from the Nazi-REGEDE later on, which brought about serious consequences for them. Additionally, many Deaf Jewish Germans were “advocate leaders” of the deaf community, who did a lot to pave the way for Deaf Germans in society and education (school, university etc.). Their contribution and encouragement has still not been acknowledged. This presentation is about the concepts “Holocaust / Shoa”, considering the “Holocaust of bombs”. We will present signs that were used in earlier times and signs that are used today. Furthermore, we will recognize the German Jewish Deaf community for their contributions to history. Film: CinéSourds (Reims, France) David de Keyzer and Philippe Berthe, both from CinèSourds
(Deaf Movies) in Reims, will present the one-hour movie „Hanna“
with German subtitles. Storyline: Hanna, a young deaf Woman who lived during Nazi-time,
leaves her family and goes into hiding because of the imminent sterilization. Saturday, June 4th: Dr. Hans-Uwe Feige (Leipzig) The „General German Association of the Deaf of the GDR” („Allgemeiner Deutscher Gehörlosenverband der DDR“ - ADGV) was founded on May 31, 1957 in Halle / Saale. Since October 1960 hard of hearing and hearing people were given the right to become members of this association (maximum 10% of all members). The ADGV has been interested in socio-political issues from it’s beginning. One of their triumphs was the release of broadcast charges for Deaf people (1964). In Stockholm, during the World Congress of the Deaf in 1963, the ADGV became a member of the World Association of the Deaf (WFD), even though the representatives from the German and Austrian Associations objected. In 1973 the ADGV was renamed „Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in GDR” („Gehörlosen- und Schwerhörigenverband der DDR“ - GSV). In 1981 and 1987 the GSV was decorated with the golden „Vaterländischen Verdienstorden der DDR“ (Order of Merit of the fatherland of GDR). Because GSV was closely integrated with the political ideas of the „Sozialistischen Einheitspartei“ (SED), it dissolved after the wall came down.
Martin Domke was born in 1953 in Frankfurt/Oder. He became deaf
when he was 5 years old and his parents and grand parents are also
deaf. His mother took an active part in the foundation of the General
Association of the Deaf of Germany (ADGV). She was a delegate in
Halle for the Frankfurt/Oder region in 1957. After, she worked as
a secretary for the regional organization. After moving to Dresden,
Martin Domke attended the school for hard of hearing children in
Leipzig and Dresden. He graduated, completed his Arbitur, in Berlin
where the only advanced grammar school for hard of hearing students
was located. After the reunification in 1990 the Association of the Deaf in Sachsen was re-established. Domke became board chairman of this association and also chairman of the Association of the Deaf in Dresden, which was founded in 1991. From 1991 to 1995 he served as vice president of the German Association of the Deaf.
For decades Friedrich Waldow had a leading position in the German Sports Association of the Deaf. Deaf sports is a very important part of the deaf culture in Germany; it has a large impact on Deaf identity. The Deaflympics in Cologne in 1981 are an example of the exceptional organization of the German Sport Association of the Deaf.
Gerlinde Gerkens was born on July 1st, 1945 in Hamm/ Westfalen.
She is the daughter of deaf parents and has one deaf brother. In 1989 Gerkens became a chair member of the Deaf Association of
Germany. In 1994 she became vice president and since 1999 has been
acting as the first and only female president. Gerlinde Gerkens
is typically known for her enormous effort in many facets of community
service; she fights for the legal status of German Sign Language,
for getting this right put into practice and for Deaf peoples’
rights in all levels of social and political life. Panel discussion with free discussion following Coming from the Past - Looking into
the Future:
Herbert Christ will be asking questions about history in general and Deaf history in the 20th century. These questions come from presentations of the symposium in Bonn. Christ was the Quizmaster at the fund-raiser in Hamburg in 2003 and at the 2nd annual meeting in Heidelberg in 2004. The winners will be rewarded with gifts.
Guided tour with
Helmut Vogel und Jochen Muhs See also: www.hdg.de In our permanent exhibition you can experience the chronicled events of German History – up close and personal. Originals, depicted in scenes, tell the History from World War II until the immediate present. Come and remember your own experiences. Discover the connections. Objects, documents, pictures and films will help you. The museum is a place of discussion – also across generations.
|
||
 |
 |
||
