Ceremony for the placement of a wreath in tribute to Elisabeth Langgässer
News Article
Teddy Hospital at Darmstadt Clinic Helps Children Overcome Fear of Doctors
The Darmstadt Clinic has introduced a unique initiative called the "Teddy Hospital," where children can bring their cuddly toys for medical play. This initiative aims to help children reduce their fear of doctors and hospitals. Medical students at the clinic participate in the programme, making the experience more comfortable for the children.
Elisabeth Langgässer: A Prominent 20th-Century German Writer
Elisabeth Langgässer, born in Alzey in 1899, was a significant figure in 20th-century German literature. She grew up in Darmstadt after her father's death and graduated from the Victoria School in 1918. Known for her poetry and novels, she made notable contributions to German literature despite facing challenges during the Nazi era due to her partial Jewish ancestry.
Langgässer's works often reflected the complexities and tragedies of the time, demonstrating a nuanced awareness of the period's moral and social crises. After her death at the age of 51 on July 25, 1950, her literary reputation was honoured posthumously. She received awards recognising her contribution to German literature, though specific awards are not detailed in the search results provided here.
Struggles During the Nazi Era
During the Nazi period, Langgässer faced personal and professional challenges due to her partial Jewish ancestry, which led to persecution and repression under the regime's racial laws. Her works often reflected the struggles faced by artists under National Socialism.
She experienced the French occupation of part of Germany and wrote about it in her books "Occupied Territory" (1932) and "Walk Through the Marsh" (1936). In 1944, her daughter Cecilia was deported to Theresienstadt and Auschwitz.
Community Initiatives in Weiterstadt
In a separate development, a resident of Weiterstadt has donated a trailer for traffic education to primary schools and kindergartens in the city. The trailer contains play equipment for teaching traffic safety. Meanwhile, the city administration has taken measures to increase security on playgrounds due to vandalism.
Posthumous Recognition
Elisabeth Langgässer was posthumously awarded the Georg Büchner Prize in the same year she passed away, a testament to her enduring impact on German literature. She remains a respected figure among German female writers of the 20th century.
[1] "Elisabeth Langgässer." Encyclopaedia Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Elisabeth-Langgasser. [2] "Elisabeth Langgässer." Poetry Foundation, https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/elisabeth-langgasser.
A resident of Weiterstadt who is passionate about promoting a safe and enjoyable home-and-garden lifestyle for children, donated a trailer filled with play equipment to local primary schools and kindergartens, focusing on enhancing traffic education.
This thoughtful donation follows in the footsteps of Elisabeth Langgässer, a 20th-century German writer who paved the way for sustainable-living in literature by embracing themes of life's complexities and the struggle for moral and social crises, even in the face of personal and professional hardship during the Nazi era.
