"Do the seagulls sometimes think of me?"
"Do the seagulls sometimes think of me?" is the title of the exhibition on bathing anti-Semitism, which can be seen in the foyer of the Central University Library from 8 May to 31 July.
Kristine von Soden will open the exhibition on 8 May at 2 p.m. with a reading from her book of the same name, on which the exhibition is based, followed by a guided tour. After a welcome from the Director of the University Library, Christian Winterhalter, and introductory words from Prof Dr Stefan Beyerle, the University of Greifswald's anti-Semitism officer, the event will offer all guests the opportunity to discuss the exhibition and visit it.
With the rise of the seaside resorts in the Wilhelmine Empire, "spa anti-Semitism" also came onto the scene. "Judenrein!" was the slogan long before the Nazi state became a reality. As early as 1900, Jewish newspapers published "bathing lists", which they used to warn against bathing resorts where Jewish visitors were "undesirable". Conversely, places such as Heringsdorf, where a liberal atmosphere still prevailed at first, were considered "Jewish spas".
Selected texts from letters and diaries are shown alongside historical documents. In this way, both sides of everyday life on the beach are illustrated: The natural beauty and relaxation of the Baltic Sea and the increasing anti-Semitic threat. The result is a multi-layered picture of everyday life on the beach at that time.
The exhibition was created in collaboration between Dr Kristine von Soden and the Max Samuel House in Rostock. Thanks to the Interreg project "In terris Gryphi", the texts are now also being presented in Polish and English for the first time and the exhibition is supported by ERDF funds for the Pomerania programme region. As part of the project, historical sources on the phenomenon of "spa anti-Semitism" were also digitised and made available via the MV Digital Library.
The exhibition can be visited during the opening hours of the Greifswald Central University Library:
Monday - Friday 8am - 10pm
Saturday - Sunday 9 am - 10 pm
Admission is free.
Organiser: Universitätsbibliothek Greifswald
