The event is free of charge. It takes place on site in Johannisburg Castle and can be followed as a live stream on the YouTube channel of the city of Aschaffenburg. On January 30, 1933, Adolf Hitler was appointed Chancellor by Reich President Paul von Hindenburg. The day of the so-called “seizure of power” is considered a historical turning point and also symbolically marks the end of the Weimar Republic. Within a very short time, the political opposition was eliminated, the National Socialists seized state power and gained control over all areas of society. What was the phase of taking power at the local level and in public space like? How did the municipal administration, press, educational institutions and schools act? Who were the key actors? What scope was there for resistance? With a regional-historical view of the developments in 1933, it should be examined to what extent the dissolution of democratic structures on site in the sense of a “transfer of power” was ultimately tolerated and supported.
A public panel discussion at the end of the symposium will deal with current questions on the culture of remembrance and the transmission of history. Even 90 years later, right-wing populist parties are active in Europe. What lessons do we learn from the abolition of democracy in 1933 for local democracy today? The event brings together local historical research and workshop reports from archives and historical associations in the Rhine-Main region. It is aimed at interested laypeople and specialist audiences, at those working in history and community culture of remembrance, at associations, initiatives, memorial sites, archives and teachers.
Program:
from 1.30 p.m.: Registration
2:00 p.m.: Welcome
Words of welcome from Jürgen Herzing, Mayor of the City of Aschaffenburg
2.10 p.m.: Introductory lecture/impulse
2.30 p.m.: “seizure of power” in the room
⦁ “From discrimination to robbery. The NS seizure of power as a milestone in the economic persecution of the Jews in Rhein-Main”, Prof. Dr. Ingo Köhler (Hessian Economic Archive Darmstadt)
⦁ “The ‘seizure of power’ in Aschaffenburg – city administration, organizations and associations”, Prof. Dr. Frank Jacob (Nord University Bordø, Norway)
⦁ “Kelsterbach: Power transformation in a small, difficult place”, Hartmut Blaum (City Archive Kelsterbach)
⦁ “The ‘seizure of power’ in Wiesbaden – state of research and desiderata, Dr. Peter Quadflieg (Wiesbaden City Archives)
Pause
4:15 p.m.: Film screening and discussion
Documentary film by Ella Bergmann-Michel “The Last Choice” (1932) and conversation with Sönke Michel (Hamburg)
4:45 p.m.: Actions and reactions
⦁ “1933: Chaos Days in Großostheim”, Bernd Hilla (Großostheim)
⦁ “The red Offenbach. Violence and Resistance from February to June 1933”, Barbara Leissing (History Workshop Offenbach a. M.)
⦁ “The Büdinger Allgemeineanzeiger 1933. A regional newspaper reveals Büdingen’s compliant march into the Nazi dictatorship”, Carsten Parré (Büdingen city archive)
⦁ “Equalization of the Prussian Institute for Wine, Fruit and Horticulture Geisenheim”, Oliver Mathias (City and University Archives Geisenheim)
6.15 p.m.: Snack and get-together
7 p.m.: Public panel discussion
“Resist the beginnings. 1933 in culture of remembrance and communication of history”; Panel discussion with:
⦁ Thomas Altmeyer, German Resistance Study Group 1933-1945 e. v,
⦁ Prof. Dr. Michael Dreyer, Weimar Republic Research Center at the Friedrich Schiller University Jena,
⦁ Anne Gemeinhardt, Historical Museum Frankfurt a. M,
⦁ dr Verena Spinnler, Hermann Staudinger High School, Erlenbach a. M.;
⦁ Moderator: Felix Münch, Hessian State Center for Civic Education
8:30 p.m.: End of the event
Location: Johannisburg Castle, Aschaffenburg and as a live stream, participation is free of charge
The event is accredited as advanced training for Hessian teachers. Training certificates for Bavarian teachers can be issued. Registration: Stadt- und Stiftsarchiv Aschaffenburg, Dr. Vaios Kalogrias, email: This email address is being protected from spam bots! To display JavaScript must be turned on!Tel.: 0172 5393 364 and online at https://form.jotform.com/223122923656050
Live stream: YouTube channel of the city of Aschaffenburg: https://www.youtube.com/user/StadtAB
Organized by: KulturRegion FrankfurtRheinMain and Stadt- und Stiftsarchiv Aschaffenburg, in cooperation with the Hessian State Center for Political Education, Studienkreis resistance 1933-45 e. V. and vhs Aschaffenburg
Info below https://www.krfrm.de/projekte/geist-der-freiheit/veranstaltungen/90-jahre-machtergreifung-in-rhein-main
Press contact:
KulturRegion FrankfurtRheinMain gGmbH
Poststrasse 16, 60329 Frankfurt am Main, www.krfm.de
Julia Wittwer, Head of Press and Public Relations, Tel.: 069 2577-1780, This email address is being protected from spam bots! To display JavaScript must be turned on!
Magdalena Zeller, project management “Spirit of Freedom – Freedom of the Spirit” Tel.: 069 2577-1700, This email address is being protected from spam bots! To display JavaScript must be turned on!
dr Vaios Kalogrias, City and Abbey Archives Aschaffenburg, Tel.: 0172 5393 364, This email address is being protected from spam bots! To display JavaScript must be turned on!
