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The '''Centre Against Expulsions''' ({{lang-de|Zentrum gegen Vertreibungen}}, ZgV) is a planned [[Germany|German]] documentation centre for [[expulsion]]s and [[ethnic cleansing]], particularly the [[Expulsion of Germans after World War II]] from [[Eastern Germany]] and other parts of Eastern Europe following the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] offensive and occupation, to be erected in [[Berlin]]. |
The '''Centre Against Expulsions''' ({{lang-de|Zentrum gegen Vertreibungen}}, ZgV) is a planned [[Germany|German]] documentation centre for [[expulsion]]s and [[ethnic cleansing]], particularly the [[Expulsion of Germans after World War II]] from [[Eastern Germany]] and other parts of Eastern Europe following the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] offensive and occupation, to be erected in [[Berlin]]. |
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The proposal for the documentation centre was initiated by the [[Federation of Expellees]], and is supported by the [[CDU]]/[[Christian Social Union of Bavaria|CSU]] faction in the [[Bundestag (Germany)|German parliament]] as well as the Chancellor [[Angela Merkel]] who intend to support building the centre. |
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The foundation ''Centre Against Expulsions'' with seat in [[Wiesbaden]] is headed by CDU politician [[Erika Steinbach]] |
The foundation ''Centre Against Expulsions'' with seat in [[Wiesbaden]] is headed by CDU politician [[Erika Steinbach]]. |
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== Purpose == |
== Purpose == |
Revision as of 14:02, 7 July 2006
The Centre Against Expulsions (German: Zentrum gegen Vertreibungen, ZgV) is a planned German documentation centre for expulsions and ethnic cleansing, particularly the Expulsion of Germans after World War II from Eastern Germany and other parts of Eastern Europe following the Soviet offensive and occupation, to be erected in Berlin.
The proposal for the documentation centre was initiated by the Federation of Expellees, and is supported by the CDU/CSU faction in the German parliament as well as the Chancellor Angela Merkel who intend to support building the centre.
The foundation Centre Against Expulsions with seat in Wiesbaden is headed by CDU politician Erika Steinbach.
Purpose
Das Zentrum gegen Vertreibungen soll
- die Flucht und Vertreibung von mehr als 15 Millionen Deutschen ebenso wie auch die Vertreibung anderer Völker, insbesondere im Europa des 20. Jahrhunderts, dokumentieren
- mündliche und schriftliche Zeitzeugenberichte aus allen Vertreibungs- und Aussiedlungsgebieten zusammenführen
- Kultur, Schicksal und Geschichte der europäischen, auch der deutschen Vertriebenen und ihrer jeweiligen Heimat im Zusammenhang erfahrbar machen
- an die Integration der Vertriebenen sowie ihre gesellschaftliche Rezeption in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland und in der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik erinnern
- in Wechselausstellungen aktuelle Vertreibungsgeschehen aufarbeiten
- Eine Requiem-Rotunde soll zum Gedenken an die Opfer zur Besinnung und Andacht einladen.
Support
The Centre Against Expulsions have been supported by many human rights activists, historians, political scientists and authors as well as other people. Among them first UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Dr. Jose Ayala Lasso, Nobel laureate Imre Kertész, Joachim Gauck, Milan Horacek, former Austrian crown prince Otto von Habsburg, well known German rabbies Walter Homolka, Eckart Klein, and historians such as Guido Knopp, György Konrád, Hans Maier, Christian Tomuschat and Alfred M. de Zayas.
Discussion about the location
Well-known intellectuals and politicians, including Germans Günter Grass and Hans-Dietrich Genscher, in 2003 expressed support for a centre devoted to all expelled during the 20th century, located in some place connected with expulsions, e.g. Wrocław (Breslau).
However, while Steinbach claims the Centre will represent the suffering of other nations as well, she believes that it is an internal German affair and rejects the proposal of creating the Centre under international control. "All victims of genocide and expulsion need a place in our hearts and in the historical memory. Human rights are indivisible," the Centre points out on its official home page.
The Bavarian Prime Minister and chairman of CSU Edmund Stoiber argued that "the place for a museum showing the dreadful fate of expelled Germans is in the German capital".
Other criticism
This initiative, supported by the CDU/CSU fraction in the parliament, has caused controversy. Opponents of the proposed form of Centre object to emphasizing only German suffering. In the petition "For a critical and enlightened debate about the past" left-wing historians expressed concerns the centre would "establish and popularize a one-sided image of the past, without historical context".
Former German Foreign minister Joschka Fischer commented on Steinbach, and her initiative for a Centre Against Expulsions to ...have caused serious damage to German-Polish relations. Not amongst extremist nationalist forces that do exist in Poland, but amongst old friends and major agents for reconciliation between our two countries.