2007 Baeumler Kaplan Holocaust Commemoration

This year, the featured Baeumler Kaplan Holocaust Commemoration presentation will be given by St. Olaf professor emeritus, Reidar Dittmann on his experiences while imprisoned at Buchenwald.  Dittmann was arrested on at least two separate occasions for his anti-Nazi activities while a student in Norway in the early 1940s--once for leading a rally in song.

The presentation will be held on Thursday, April 19 at 4:00 p.m. in the Kirby Ballroom at UMD.  This event, as always, is free and open to the public.

Reidar Dittmann was at Buchenwald for a few years.  He’s asked that we call his presentation “Die Vogelein Schweigen im Walde:  The Birds Keep Silent in the Forest.”  The title comes from one of Goethe’s most famous poems, Wanderers Nachtlied II:  Wayfarer’s Night Song II.  The forest described in the poem is where Buchenwald was built.  In fact, the Goethe Eiche, the Goethe Oak, was in the camp. 

 

In addition to the featured presentation by Dittmann, the BKHC committee has scheduled the following events:

We will have a month-long exhibit on Buchenwald at the UMD library during the month of April. 

"An Introduction to Buchenwald" On Wednesday, April 11 at 4:00 p.m. in the UMD Rafters, Leonore Baeumler and Karl Bahm will be presenting an educational session on Buchenwald.  This session is free and open to the public.

 

On Wednesday, April 18 at 7:00 p.m. in Bohannon 90 at UMD, the film subcommittee of BKHC will present the film, "Fateless"--based on the book by Nobel laureate Imre Kertesz.  The film recounts the experiences of a young Jewish teenager who is sent to Buchenwald toward the end of the war.  There will be a discussion following the film led by members of the BKHC film subcommittee.  Again, this event is free and open to the public. 

Here is a link to a url about the film:  http://www.fateless.co.uk/

Questions or concerns can be directed to Deborah Petersen-Perlman at 726-6849, dpeters1@d.umn.edu.

 

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