Hamburg Renames Culture Prize Over Nazi Past of Namesake
The Hamburg Senate has renamed the Senator-Biermann-Ratjen-Medaille, a prestigious cultural award, to 'Medaille für Kunst und Kultur in Hamburg' after historical records revealed its namesake, Hans Harder Biermann-Ratjen (1901-1969), was a member of the Nazi Party. The decision follows a 2024 review of archival documents, as reported by Welt. Biermann-Ratjen, a former cultural senator, had disclosed his NSDAP membership in a 1943 application to the Reichsschrifttumskammer to publish a novel. Historian Helmut Stubbe da Luz presented these findings in a June 2024 article for Welt am Sonntag. Cultural Senator Carsten Brosda (SPD) emphasized that the discussion about Biermann-Ratjen's past should continue separately from honoring current cultural contributors. The medal, established in 1978, has been awarded over 100 times. The new medal will be first awarded in summer 2025 to Peter Hess (born 1943), founder of the Hamburg Stolpersteine initiative and 'Gedenktafeln Hamburg'.
Key facts
- The Senator-Biermann-Ratjen-Medaille has been renamed to 'Medaille für Kunst und Kultur in Hamburg'.
- Hans Harder Biermann-Ratjen was a member of the Nazi Party, as revealed by historical records.
- Biermann-Ratjen disclosed his NSDAP membership in a 1943 application to the Reichsschrifttumskammer.
- Historian Helmut Stubbe da Luz published the findings in June 2024 in Welt am Sonntag.
- The medal was established in 1978 and has been awarded over 100 times.
- Cultural Senator Carsten Brosda stated the discussion about the namesake's past should be separate from honoring current cultural figures.
- The new medal will be first awarded in summer 2025 to Peter Hess.
- Peter Hess is the founder of the Hamburg Stolpersteine initiative and 'Gedenktafeln Hamburg'.
Entities
Artists
- Peter Hess
Institutions
- Hamburg Senate
- Kulturbehörde
- Welt
- Welt am Sonntag
- Reichsschrifttumskammer
- NSDAP
- Hamburger Stolpersteine
- Gedenktafeln Hamburg
Locations
- Hamburg
- Germany