How neighbors became Jews

Description

In November 1938, the seeds of hatred are sown throughout the German Reich. In hundreds of communities, residents humiliate their Jewish neighbors. Today’s image of the November 1938 pogrom is dominated by the events in Berlin and some other large cities such as Munich and Essen. But the really shocking thing about the anti-Semitic attacks of the “Reichskristallnacht” was that, unlike earlier organized pogroms, they actually took place throughout the Reich and even in the provinces. The November pogroms are the caesura to a new quality and intensity of persecution.

Using the example of the Rhine-Hessian wine village of Guntersblum, editor and author Sven Felix Kellerhoff shows how hatred grew, broke out and what consequences it had. It is precisely the view into a completely normal village that makes the terrifying normality of Jew-hatred tangible and immediately understandable. Here, the victim and perpetrator actually knew each other and lived closely together. Sven Felix Kellerhoff tells the story in his book
A completely normal pogrom
tells of the poignant fates of those affected in Guntersblum. It shows how the poison of anti-Semitism spread, how the situation escalated from 1933 onwards, what exactly happened in November 1938 and how the past has not let go of this exemplary place to this day.

Sven Felix Kellerhoff is a historian and has published numerous books on topics including anti-Semitism. Since 2003, he has been editor-in-chief for contemporary and cultural history at WELT. He has also been responsible for welt.de’s history channel since 2012.

The young Indonesian pianist Prudence Nugroho creates a musical framework with miniatures by the Israeli composer Drori Binder on the piano.

Prudence Nugroho has won various prizes in Germany and South Korea, Malaysia and Indonesia. She has performed at many concerts and festivals in Europe and Asia and has taken part in numerous master classes.

PROGRAM

Welcome
Eliah Sakakushev-von Bismarck, Director of Villa Seligmann
Jochen Leyhe, moderator of the event, program manager of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom

Reading
Sven Felix Kellerhof reads from his book “Ein ganz normales Pogrom. November 1938 in a German village”

Salon talk
Discussion with the author, questions and answers

Book table
Afterwards, you will have the opportunity to purchase the book “Ein ganz normales Pogrom, November 1938 in einem deutschen Dorf” and talk to the author.

Villa Seligmann kindly points out that the views and opinions expressed by teparticipating Speakers and visitors at guest events are by no means representative for the attitude of the of the house. For such events, Villa Seligmann’s responsibility is limited to the organizational and event-related aspects.