Council of Germans of Ukraine

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Council of Germans of Ukraine
(RDU)
founding June 23, 2011

place Kiev, 01054, Ukraine, st. Olesya Gonchara 44, office 3
Website http://deutsche.in.ua/de

The social organization Council of Germans of Ukraine ( RDU ; ukr . Спілка об'єднань громадян "Рада німців України") is an association of public organizations that was founded for the purpose of coordinating the actions of public organizations of ethnic Germans of Ukraine To represent interests in relations with the authorities, local government and businesses, and to coordinate the activities of the founders of public organizations belonging to the RDU. The RDU was registered as a legal entity on June 23, 2011.

The areas of activity are cultural and educational development, learning the German language , social projects, rehabilitation, archive and research assistance, promotion of research on the history of Germans, business and economy, partnership between the cities of Ukraine and Germany , youth work, including international youth exchanges.

founder

The founders of the Council of Germans of Ukraine are:

  • the international social organization Society of Germans of Ukraine - "Rebirth" (until 1992: Ukrainian Republican Society of Soviet Germans "Rebirth" for politics, culture and education)
  • the all-Ukrainian association "German Youth in Ukraine" (DJU) (registration date: January 24, 2001)
  • the all-Ukrainian association "The Association of Germans in Ukraine" (ADU) (registration date: June 19, 2001)

Organization logo

The emblem is an image of a phoenix with its wings pointing upwards, symbolizing the revival of the German social movement after the decisions of the 1st Extraordinary Congress of Germans of the USSR (March 12-15, 1991). The emblem was accepted at the 1st Congress of Germans in Ukraine (November 21-23, 1996) as the symbol of the highest organ of the People's Council of Germans in Ukraine.

The outline of the image is black, the background is white. The phoenix's head is turned to the left.

The wing, shown to the left of the body, reflects feathers, the outer contour is black, the inner contour is a composition of three bands: yellow, red and black.

The wing, shown to the right of the body, reflects feathers, the outer contour is black, the inner contour is a composition of three bands: yellow, red and black.

Under the phoenix there is an inscription of the abbreviated name of the Council of Germans of Ukraine, which is the distinguishing mark of the council.

History of the Germans of Ukraine

The fate of the Germans has been closely linked to Ukraine for over 2200 years.

This long and dramatic path goes back to the 3rd to 1st century BC. BC, when the Germanic tribal association of the Bastarns was settled on the territory of the lower Danube and between the Dniester and the Dnieper .

At the turn of the 2nd to the 3rd century, the Germanic tribe of Goths appeared on the territory of Ukraine . Here they founded one of the first Germanic state associations under the name "Gothic Kingdom".

In today's Ukrainian territory in particular, many Germans had professed their Christian faith. The famous bishop Ulfila created the Gothic written language. Between 341 and 348 he translated the Bible into the Gothic language.

The relocation of German craftsmen, traders and farmers to western Ukraine continued throughout the Middle Ages and had a major impact on the economic, socio-political and cultural life of this region.

In the last years of the 17th century and the beginning of the 18th century, the tsarist government first attempted to have the north coast of the Sea of Azov colonized and opened up by the resettled colonists. The Russo-Turkish war prevented this .

The relocation attempts by F.-K. Schönborn, Imperial Vice Chancellor, Bishop of Bamberg and Count of Würzburg , and his successors. An extraordinary government decree prompted hundreds of German colonists to move to Transcarpathia in early 1731 . They came from Germany, Austria, Bohemia, Transylvania and Galicia.

From the 1860s to the beginning of the First World War , over 2000 settlements with predominantly German populations were built in Ukraine.

During the First World War there was mass repression against the German population of the Russian Empire under the Tsarist government. More than 400,000 Germans were forcibly relocated to the east from the front lines. They were only able to return to Ukraine since 1918.

From 1924 the German village and settlement councils were established in the areas of the Ukraine that were densely populated by Germans. In 1931 the number was already 252. Seven German regions were founded in the Ukraine.

In the school year 1929/30 there were 628 German schools in Ukraine, in which 35,075 children studied. 89.3% of German students were able to enjoy schooling in their mother tongue.

Due to a decision of the Soviet government on March 27, 1929, thousands of German families were expropriated during the period of collectivization and resettled from Ukraine. The expropriation also affected food from the peasant population, which led to the famine in Ukraine, among others. a. in the German villages.

The German population in Ukraine was not excluded from the great terror of the 1930s. 93% of thousands of detainees were sentenced to death. By resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party on April 10, 1938, all German schools were converted to Ukrainian and Russian-speaking ones. In addition, by resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine on March 5, 1939, all German areas and village councils were dissolved.

In the years of the Second World War , more than 450,000 Germans were deported from Ukraine to the eastern regions of the Soviet Union. One in three of them lost their lives during the deportation or in the labor columns of the Interior Ministry of the USSR and in the special settlements. The causes were u. a. Hunger, sickness and the hard work.

The administrative ban on the return of Germans to Ukraine was only lifted on November 3, 1972. More than 38,000 Germans had returned to Ukraine by 1991. That is less than 5% of the German population in the pre-war period.

According to the last census in 2001, 33,000 Germans live in Ukraine. The majority of Germans live in the following areas: Donetsk , Dnipro , Transcarpathia , Odessa and the Crimea .

rehabilitation

In August 1941 a series of decrees of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the USSR “On the resettlement of Germans from the European part of the territory of the USSR” was published. This day is a black day for Germans in Ukraine and the beginning of a tragedy. When the war began in August 1941, 500,000 ethnic Germans were deported to Siberia , Kazakhstan and Central Asia within a few days . There they had to live in special settlements and work in the labor army, where a third of them either starved to death or died under the Siberian winter and the generally difficult living conditions.

One of the priority tasks decided by the 5th Congress of Germans in Ukraine, the RDU and the German social organizations, is the rehabilitation of ethnic Germans.

Self-organization and identity

The highest representative and coordinating body of the national German minority is the Council of Germans of Ukraine, which is elected by the Congress of Germans of Ukraine.

It consolidates the activities of the German social organizations of Ukraine for the proper representation of interests of the German national minority in Ukraine in relations with the state authorities and local politicians, as well as companies, institutions and organizations.

The Council of Germans of Ukraine protects societal, economic, social and political interests of Germans, promotes the development of national-cultural projects, as well as projects in the field of education and language. It also promotes the preservation of traditions, customs, folk rituals as well as artistic and other values. An important piece of work to solve these problems may come. a. the Association of Germans of Ukraine, the international social organization Gesellschaft der Deutschen der Ukraine - “Wiedergeburt” and the All-Ukrainian Association “German Youth in Ukraine”.

The German minority with its history and traditions, culture and identity represents an independent and independent part of the multinational Ukrainian society. The preservation and promotion of the German language are necessary for the ethnic German groups, as well as tolerance, openness and support friendly relations with all ethnic communities in the country.

The most important task of all social organizations of Germans in Ukraine is to build a bridge between the Ukrainian and German populations and their centuries-old cultures.

Child and youth work

Child and youth work is part of the activities of German society.

The all-Ukrainian association “German Youth in Ukraine” is actively involved in the organization of youth exchanges as well as educational and other projects. These make u. a. a contribution to the European integration of the country, e.g. B .:

  • Language academies
  • Bicycle tours in Germany and Ukraine
  • Expeditions on the Viking ship
  • Forum of German Youth

The “Elite Promotion” program is intended to promote the artistic and professional potential of ethnic Germans for social, scientific and artistic activities. It offers a good opportunity to learn German as a child. a. in Sunday schools and in various courses.

As part of the “Schools Partners for the Future” (PASCH) initiative, the Goethe-Institut is promoting a network of schools across Ukraine that offer advanced German courses. In addition, there are more than 20 accredited DSD schools (Deutsches Sprachdiplom) working in the Ukraine, which help the representatives of the German minority and all interested parties to learn the German language excellently at school age.

An important project of the RDU is the "All-Ukrainian German language camp", where the children can develop their communication skills.

Elite promotion

One part of the activities of the German society is the promotion of the elite.

The “Elite Promotion” program is intended to promote the artistic and professional potential of ethnic Germans for social, scientific and artistic activities. It offers a good opportunity to learn German as a child. a. in Sunday schools and in various courses.

The main task of this program is to support active representatives of the DMi who represent the interests of the German minority, both within the self-organization and in front of the general public in Ukraine and Europe, as well as to support artists, writers, researchers and leaders of German social organizations . Funding is provided in the following form: scholarships, the opportunity to participate in training seminars, competitions and international conferences for the realization of personal exhibitions and presentations, purchase of musical instruments and other equipment for the realization of the ideas of the “elite”. As part of this program, students can receive a partial scholarship for their studies upon request.

Education and language

German language

Learning German plays the main role in maintaining the ethnic identity of the German minorities in Ukraine.

In order to increase the interest of ethnic Germans in learning their mother tongue, the RDU has developed a number of areas of activity:

  • German courses in the German meeting centers;
  • Children's language camp;
  • Winter academy for young people;
  • Project funding competitions;
  • Seminars of the Education and Information Center - Ukraine (BIS).

The RDU works closely with the Goethe Institute in Ukraine and the Austrian Language Diploma, which deal with the coordination of language work.

In addition, the ethnic Germans of Ukraine are developing a wide range of language courses and an advanced training system for teachers through the "BIZ - Ukraine". Its main task is to promote information and education with regard to the preservation of the ethno-cultural identity of Germans in Ukraine.

In addition to the “Elite Promotion” project, there are a large number of scholarships and exchange programs for active representatives of the German minority in Ukraine who have excellent knowledge of German. One of the partners in this area is the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), which awards scholarships to students and researchers.

In cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, a project is being developed that will allow texts on the history of ethnic Germans in Ukraine to be included in school books for the 7th – 11th centuries. Class provides.

Cultural work

Cultural work is a part of the activities of German society. More than 170 German social organizations successfully implement various charitable, cultural programs.

With the support of the German federal government, German meeting centers are being organized in more than 60 Ukrainian cities and villages, in which German language and history are taught. These centers also host decorative arts, theater, dance and song circles. The activities in the working groups for theater, literature, regional studies etc., which take place in German, also play an important role.

The preservation and promotion of the German language are necessary for the ethnic German groups, as well as tolerance, openness and the support of friendly relationships with all ethnic communities in the country.

Social work

Social work is an important part of the activities of the German minority in Ukraine.

Your main tasks:

  • Cures for seniors and people with disabilities;
  • the targeted help for lonely and needy people at the respective place of residence, e.g. B. voluntary help;
  • “Winter Aid” (food parcels for single, needy seniors, as well as people with disabilities and for large families);
  • medical help for socially disadvantaged ethnic Germans;
  • Help for students from socially disadvantaged families;
  • Promotion of the provincial German villages;
  • the BIS - seminars for social work.

The support programs for the elderly and children with disabilities are the most developed today. In order to improve social benefits, a survey was carried out with the aim of setting up an all-Ukrainian database of socially disadvantaged ethnic Germans from Ukraine. The leaders and members of the German social organizations provide great support in the implementation of the project.

Cooperation with state and public institutions

The RDU is a member of the Federal Union of National Minorities of Europe. There is an active cooperation with the German-Ukrainian parliamentary group in the German Bundestag.

The Council of Germans of Ukraine participates in the public councils under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine and the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.

A variety of contacts were established with members of the German Bundestag and German cultural and political institutions. The main issue for the German community in Ukraine is the revival of the work of the German-Ukrainian government commission for affairs of people of German origin living in Ukraine. To this end, meetings and consultations are taking place with the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, the Administration of the President of Ukraine and the Embassy of Ukraine in Germany.

An important part of the relations between Ukraine and Germany are the partnership relationships between the twin cities, which open up opportunities for active communication and numerous informal contacts between people.

The RDU is a supporter of European values ​​and supports the European integration of Ukraine. At the Congress of Germans of Ukraine, all delegates of the congress unanimously spoke out in favor of the European direction of development in Ukraine. The RDU promotes the development of Ukrainian-German cooperation and the improvement of Ukraine's image in the FRG.

Museums and Archives

Many museums of Ukraine have created exhibitions that inform visitors about the historical and cultural heritage of ethnic Germans in Ukraine.

It is important to cooperate with the National Museum of Folk Architecture and Customs of Ukraine ( Open-Air Museum in Pyrohiw ) in the creation of the exposition “Homeland of the German Colonists” of the South of Ukraine from the 16th until the XIX. Working together in the 20th century.

A working group has been formed to work on reconstructing the characteristic house of German colonists in the south of Ukraine in the museum's exposition.

Cooperation with universities was developed in the direction of historical research. Contacts were established with scientists whose research area is linked to the history of the German and German colonies in Ukraine.

The cooperation with the libraries of Ukraine contributes to the systematization of materials on the history of the German minority in Ukraine.

Cooperation with the State Archives of Ukraine is being established. This work aims to preserve historical memory and ethnic self-identification.

partner

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Свидетельство про регистрацию объединения граждан № 3595 от 23.06.2011 "Союз объединений гражединений гражединений граждинений граждинений граждинений граждинений граждинений граждацн Умален
  2. ↑ Устав Союза объединений граждан, "Совет немцев Украины" , Портал немцев Украины
  3. ↑ Видеофильм «На пути Возрождения" - Первый съезд немцев Украины (21-23 ноября 1996 г.) ( Memento of the original April 8, 2017 Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link is automatically inserted and not yet tested. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / genosse.su
  4. ↑ Языковые академии ВО НМУ
  5. ↑ Велопробег ВО НМУ
  6. ↑ Сплав на ладье викингов ВО НМУ
  7. ↑ Форум немецкой молодёжи ВО НМУ
  8. ↑ BMI (Министерство внутренних дел Германии)
  9. ↑ Благотворительный Фонд «Общество Развития»
  10. ↑ GIZ (Немецкое общество международного сотрудничества)
  11. ↑ Посольство ФРГ в Украине ( Memento of the original from January 18, 2018 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.kiew.diplo.de
  12. ↑ Goethe Institute
  13. ↑ DAAD
  14. ↑ ZFA
  15. ↑ Федералистский Союз национальных меньшинств Европы
  16. ↑ Департамент по делам религий и национальностей Министерства культуры Украины ( Memento of the original from April 6, 2015 has not been checked automatically in the internet archive. ) Info: The archive has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / mincult.kmu.gov.ua
  17. ↑ Министерство социальной политики Украины ( Memento of the original from July 6, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.mlsp.gov.ua
  18. ↑ Министерство молодёжи и спорта Украины
  19. ↑ Комитет Верховный Совет of Ukraine по вопросам прав человека национальных меньшинств и отношений межнациональных ( Memento of the original July 4, 2017 Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link is automatically inserted and not yet tested. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / kompravlud.rada.gov.ua