Seven thousand guests at the successful Culture Festival of the German minority in Poland

Seven thousand guest, including many from outside Poland and several representatives from the member organisations of FUEN, were in Wrocław / Breslau to participate in the Culture Festival of the German minority last Saturday (26 September). The festival was organised by the Association of German Social Cultural Societies in Poland (VDG). Both Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Germany and Grzegorz Schetyna, Foreign Minister of Poland had agreed to act as patrons.

After it was opened with a holy mass in the church of Saint Mary on the Sand, the Culture Festival started in the Centennial Hall of Wroclaw. The German minority presented itself in the best possible way, with information desks and a wide variety of music and dance groups from all over Poland.

Important political guests and salutations, a literary competition and a debate with historians complemented the programme. The Festival was concluded with a performance by the popular singer Andy Borg.

VDG-Chair Bernhard Gaida spoke about the difficult situation for the German minority in the People’s Republic of Poland after the Second World War: “The socialist apparatus with its nationalist leanings treated us brutally. Therefore we need the support of both the Polish and also the German government, but also we ourselves must want to use the German language in schools and at home. There must be a willingness to use the existing possibilities and to create a new situation.”

The Polish Secretary of State Stanisław Huskowski admitted that he is aware that there is much that still has to be done: “I know that, despite our good relations, there are still issues that have to be sorted out. However, I reassure you that the problems of the German minority will be solved.” The German Government Commissioner for Matters Related to Ethnic German Resettlers and National Minorities Hartmut Koschyk, who also attended the festival, offered support on the part of the Federal Republic of Germany.

From 18 until 22 May 2016 the Association of German Social Cultural Societies in Poland (VDG) will organise the annual FUEN Congress. FUEN congratulates VDG with the success of the Culture Festival and looks forward to the congress in 2016 – that will take place in the European Capital of Culture Wrocław / Breslau 2016.