Association of German-Greek Societies
The Association of German-Greek Societies e. V. (abbreviated: VDGG ; Greek Ένωση Γερμανό-Ελληνικών Εταιρειών Α.Σ. ) is the umbrella organization founded in Frankfurt am Main in 1961 of currently more than 40 German- Greek societies and associations in the Federal Republic of Germany.
The association
The purpose of the association is to cultivate German-Greek friendship through partnership encounters and events and to convey modern Greek culture and literature in Germany.
Membership can be achieved by German-Greek companies in Germany as well as by individuals and legal entities as sustaining members.
The current board is composed as follows:
President: Sigrid Skarpelis-Sperk, Vice-Presidents: Euthymia Graßmann-Gratsia, Günter Leußler, Managing Director: Dietrich Hunold, Treasurer: Bernhard Vester, Secretary: Michal Riedel, Youth Representative: Vicky Douka, Anastasios Eleftheriadis, Holger Lamm, Dimitrios Mastoras
Office: Morlaixplatz 27, 52146 Würselen.
Ring of honor
In addition to various types of events, the association awards the gold ring of honor of the German-Greek Societies every two years to a personality who has made a special contribution to German-Greek relations. Previous winners were:
- 1995: Vera Dimopoulos-Vosikis from Athens for the establishment of the German Contact and Information Center in Athens, which offers German women help with integration and reintegration
- 1997: Georgios-Alexandros Mangakis from Athens for his exemplary commitment to democracy and human rights
- 1999: Doris and Kurt Eisenmeier from Sassen / Schlitz for their work for mentally handicapped people in Greece in the Agios Nikolaos Foundation in Galaxidi on the Gulf of Corinth
- 2001: Kostas Tsatsaronis from Athens, correspondent for German newspapers in Greece and long-time editor of the Athener Zeitung , for the publisher of the first Greek weekly newspaper in German
- 2003: His Eminence Ireneos , Metropolitan of Kissamos and Selinon , long-time Metropolitan of Germany and Exarch of Central Europe
- 2005: Jan Murken for his services to the establishment of the Otto König von Greece Museum in Ottobrunn and the city partnership Ottobrunn- Nauplia
- 2007: Niki Eideneier-Anastassiadi for teaching modern Greek literature in Germany
- 2009: Eberhard Rondholz for his journalistic engagement with politics, history, culture and literature of Greece and his contribution to a differentiated picture of Greece
- 2011: Wilfried Bölke , board member of the Heinrich Schliemann Society Ankershagen , for his significant participation in the planning and realization of the Heinrich Schliemann Memorial Ankershagen and the associated Heinrich Schliemann Museum as well as the establishment of the first East German member society of the VDGG and the initiation the town twinning Ankershagen - Mycenae
- 2013: Danae Coulmas , Greek publicist, for her active work against the Greek military dictatorship and her translation and publication of contemporary Greek literature in Germany
- 2015: Georg Albrecht worked as a social worker at the Diakonisches Werk Rheinland in addition to the normal service, in particular for Greek guest workers and for the law on foreigners, and was involved in the Federal Association of Immigrants.
- 2017: Greek editor of Deutsche Welle (DW) for the role of the editor during the time of the Athens military dictatorship (1967–1974)
- 2019: Karolos Papoulias, former President of the Hellenic Republic D. for his active commitment to democracy and for the improvement of German-Greek relations
magazine
The association publishes the annual magazine Hellenika - Yearbook for Greek Culture and German-Greek Relations .
The "hellenika" published by the Association of German-Greek Societies (VDGG), founded in 1964, initially by the writer Johannes Gaitanides, then by Isidora Rosenthal-Kamarinea until 2002, has been scientifically and editorially supervised since 2006, now scientifically and editorially supervised by Holger Lamm and Thede Kahl, annually in a new series as “Hellenika NF, Yearbook for Greek Culture and German-Greek Relations”.
The yearbook sees itself as a cultural journal on Greek, especially modern Greek culture. The HELLENIKA want to convey something of the diversity and importance of this culture, give insights into the history, social structures and geography, but also the current problems of the country and thus improve the understanding of Greece and its people, which is more indispensable Is part of Europe. Greece needs friends now more than ever. Friends who will not be put off by the current crisis in the country and the relations between the two countries, as well as negative reporting about the country.
