Edith Ruß and National Socialism

Discussion event on October 25 at the PFL Cultural Center (in German language)

City presents expert opinion on Edith Ruß in public.

The role of the person who gave her name to the Edith-Russ-Haus for Media Art during the Nazi era has been scientifically investigated.

The scientific study, which deals with the work of Edith Ruß during the National Socialist era and her behavior after 1945, has been available since around the end of September. The city of Oldenburg commissioned this scientific report after allegations against the namesake and founder of the Edith-Russ-Haus for Media Art, who died in 1993, became public at the beginning of this year. Historian Dr. Mareike Witkowski and her colleague Dr. Joachim Tautz prove in their investigation that Edith Ruß had been a member of the NSDAP since 1 January 1941 and had written numerous articles as a journalist in the Nazi press in which nationalist ideas can be found. Edith Ruß had always denied her membership of the NSDAP. The city administration will present the report at a public discussion event on Friday, October 25. The event will begin at 7.30 pm in the event hall of the PFL cultural center (Peterstraße 3). Admission is free. Reservations are not required.

By way of introduction, Dr. Mareike Witkowski will explain the academic investigation and the co-director of the Edith-Russ-Haus for Media Art, Marcel Schwierin, will provide information on the regional, national and international reactions to the local debate. This will be followed by a discussion on the role of Edith Ruß in National Socialism and a possible renaming of the Edith Russ House for Media Art. Prof. Dr. Stefan Müller-Doohm will moderate the event. The city administration invites all interested citizens to attend.

In a press release on 25 September, Lord Mayor Jürgen Krogmann has already spoken out in favor of renaming the Edith-Russ-HausEdith Russ House for Media Art: “In my view, it is no longer acceptable for a municipal cultural institution to use the name Edith Russ in its title.” The team at the Edith Russ House also “emphatically” supports a name change.

You can find more information about Edith Ruß and the history of the Edith-Russ-Haus here.