Winter semester 2024/25

Excursion to the Haus der Geschichte, Stuttgart (25.01.2025)

On January 25, 2025 Andrea Acle-Kreysing visited the Haus der Geschichte in Stuttgart together with the students from her seminar:

"As part of the permanent exhibition, we specifically looked for objects that symbolically illustrate the historical and social background to migration.

Among the most impressive exhibits were "hunger breads", which were baked from all kinds of ingredients except flour. These were a reminder of the drought of the early 19th century, which, together with the Napoleonic Wars, led to many people emigrating from the region. The history of regiments in the American Civil War, which were formed from political exiles from Baden-Württemberg after the revolutions of 1848, also provided fascinating insights.

Other objects illustrated the experiences of flight and expulsion from the National Socialist era to the 1950s, when the region finally became a center of attraction for immigrants. Particularly impressive was the presentation in oversized suitcases, which told the stories of people from Ukraine, Iran, Turkey, Germany and other countries with personal items and memorabilia, illustrating migration experiences from both the 19th and 20th centuries.

Another highlight was a board game on the topic of migration, which used real examples and personal life stories (e.g. of highly qualified professionals, political dissidents, underage refugees and low-skilled immigrants) to show that integration depends not only on personal will, but also to a large extent on the institutional and structural support services available to immigrants.

We would like to thank our dedicated guide, Mr. Vidačković, for his lively and insightful explanations during the tour and workshop. We would also like to thank the GeistSoz student council for the financial support that made this excursion possible. We can warmly recommend a visit to the Haus der Geschichte to everyone."

Summer semester 2024

Excursion to the "working museum"

Technoseum Mannheim (detail: weaving mill from Elzach)

On June 15, 2024, we visited Sophia Merkel with participants of the seminar "Textile history between technology and consumer history" and interested students visited the Technoseum in Mannheim.
Sabine Hüttner, demonstration technician, gave a guided tour of the museum's diverse exhibits, which illustrated textile production. The participants were able to operate various exhibits such as spinning wheels and looms themselves and try out what had been discussed in the seminar and experience the physical demands of the various devices. One of the highlights was the demonstration of a faithfully reconstructed weaving mill, operated in the 19th and 20th centuries by the Störr family from Elzach (see photo). Driven by a water wheel, the seven looms, among other things, showed the great noise pollution and dangers to which the people working in the weaving mill were exposed.
We would especially like to thank Sabine Hüttner for the informative and exciting demonstration and the Geistsoz student council for the financial support.

Excursion to the Linden Museum, Stuttgart

Linden Museum Stuttgart

On July 20, 2024, Andrea Acle-Kreysing and the participants of her seminar visited the exhibition *Stuttgart-Afghanistan* at the Linden-Museum in Stuttgart, which deals with the dynamics of knowledge exchange and cultural mediation. During the tour, Ms. Hüge gave us a fascinating insight into numerous historical objects, works of art and everyday objects.

We were particularly impressed by the involvement of people from the Stuttgart region who have a personal connection to Afghanistan in the preparation of the exhibition. Their contributions in the form of memories, thoughts and loans enriched our view and created a valuable link to the present. We also appreciated how the exhibition offered a new perspective on a German research expedition to Afghanistan in the 1960s by including actors from both countries.

We would like to thank the GeistSoz student council for their financial support and our wonderful museum guide, Ms. Hüge!

WS 2023/24

Excursion to the Oberer Kuhberg concentration camp memorial site