Institute of German Studies is celebrating!
200 years ago, on 24 March 1823, the poet, scholar and author of the words of the German national anthem, August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben (1798-1874), arrived in Silesia and spent the next 20 years of his life in Wrocław. The event was commemorated on March 30, 2023, at the UWr Institute of German Studies. Prof. dr hab. Marek Hałub has presented many years of cooperation between the Hoffmann von Fallersleben Scientific Society (Wolfsburg) and Zakład Kultury Krajów Niemieckojęzycznych i Śląska [Department of Culture of German-speaking countries and Silesia], honoured in 2007 with the Nagroda Kulturalna Śląska Kraju Związkowego Dolnej Saksonii award.
The cooperation culminated in the holding of the 2nd international scientific symposium on the author’s life and work in 2003 in Wrocław. Dr Mariusz Dzieweczyński presented Hoffmann’s scientific, popularisation and organisational activities on the Oder River. Hoffmann paved the way for German studies here, and today is considered a precursor of research on Silesia’s pluricultural legacy.
Prof. dr hab. Stefan Kiedroń referred to Hoffmann as ‘the father of Dutch philology’ for his significant contribution to its development. Afterwards, the Honorary President of the abovementioned Society, dr Kurt Schuster (Wolfsburg-Fallersleben), gave a lecture on Comrade Hoffmann, Ludwig Erk and the difficulties faced at that time by Prussian officials with liberal views. The ceremony culminated with the presentation to the Institute of German Studies management prof. dr hab. Tomasz Małyszek and prof. dr hab. Urszula Bonter, of an original Hoffmann portrait from 1845 from the Hoffmann von Fallersleben Foundation by Kurt and Ulrike Schuster, which will from now on adorn the office of the management of the Institute of German Studies.
Translated by Klaudia Kuśnierz (student of English Studies at the University of Wrocław) as part of the translation practice.
