Band 18, 3-4 (2025) von EJM ist erschienen

Band 18, 3-4 (2025) von EJM ist erschienen. Es enthält 4 Artikel, 2 Chronik-Beiträge und 3 Rezensionen: biblioscout.net/journal/ejm/18/3-4

Der zweite Kontext der Vertreibung. Sowjetrussischer Imperialismus und deutscher Exodus aus dem Osten 1945

Kittel, Manfred

The article examines the Soviet-driven expulsion of nearly 15 million Germans from Eastern Europe following World War II. Framed by the outcomes of the Tehran, Yalta, and Potsdam conferences, it argues that Stalin’s policies marked a deliberate effort to divide Europe and enforce Sovietization on its eastern half. The forcible removal of Germans served as a tool for consolidating Soviet imperial power, transforming historical settlement regions into a communist core. The analysis situates these events within the context of Russian imperial ambitions, which expanded westward in the aftermath of Hitler’s defeat. The article highlights how Stalin’s “ethnic cleansing” paved the way for communist dictatorships across Central and Eastern Europe, ultimately creating a new “Cordon sanitaire” - a buffer zone of Soviet-style regimes. This reversal of the prewar buffer established by liberal democracies reflected broader shifts in European memory and identity. It is also considered how these legacies are interpreted in contemporary German memory culture, especially in light of recent Russian aggression in Ukraine.

Gressoney und Issime. Drei deutschsprachige Walsergemeinden in der italienischen Region Val d’Aosta/Vallée d’Aoste

Piok, Elisabeth

The study focuses on the Walser communities of Gressoney and Issime in the Aosta Valley, which are still shaped by their German language and culture. The Walser migrated from the Upper Valais in the 12th and 13th centuries and settled in the high valleys south of the Monte Rosa. While Gressoney developed as a monolingual German-speaking community, Issime was multilingual from the beginning due to contact with Romance-speaking populations. These differences are still reflected in the dialects today: titsch in Gressoney is strongly influenced by Standard German, whereas töitschu in Issime shows more influence from Piemontese, Franco-Provençal, and French. Economic development also diverged: Gressoney has benefited from tourism since the 19th century, especially due to Queen Margherita’s summer residence and later winter sports. Issime, on the other hand, remained more agricultural and economically weaker, with only limited tourism. Both dialects are now severely endangered. In Gressoney, there is greater cultural awareness of the local language, but the number of active speakers is rapidly declining, particularly among children. In Issime, the situation is similar, although dialect awareness remained stronger for a long time. Italian now dominates everyday life, while the local idioms are spoken mostly by older generations. Initiatives such as school programs and cultural associations aim to preserve the dialects but can only slow down the decline.

Plodarisch, Zahrar Sproche, Tischlbongarisch: Assessing the Degree of Endangerment

Costantini, Francesco

This paper evaluates the vitality and degree of endangerment of Plodarisch/ Sappadino, Zahrar Sproche/Saurano, and Tischlbongarisch/Timavese, three Southern Bavarian dialects spoken in the German enclaves of Sappada/Plodn, Sauris/Zahre, and Timau/Tischlbong in the alpine area of Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy. Employing the parameters developed by UNESCO and used in the UNESCO Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger, the study reassesses existing literature and integrates recent sociolinguistic field data. The assessment concludes that despite strong community support, institutional protection, and significant efforts in education and documentation, all three varieties are severely endangered due to a consistent decline in intergenerational transmission and diminished use in daily life. To ensure their continued viability, concerted efforts are urgently needed.

Bulgarian Muslims (Pomaks) – Transforming Identities. A Case Study

Todorova, Bogdana

The social context of the historical memory in Bulgaria is related to the process of the construction of the nation and especially the efforts to integrate and homogenize the population which directly affects the Bulgarian speaking Muslim population (the Bulgarian-Muslims). What makes their community different is its ethno-religious specifics rather than any purely ethnic characteristics. The issue of identity is examined in the context of social philosophy, anthropology, ethnology, and social psychology. An interdisciplinary approach and biographical interview method are utilized. The aim of the article is to present the transformation of identities that leads to more universal European identity. The open identity of the community allows it to quickly overcome its own negative attitudes and relations. The results show that the rich cultural traditions and values contrast sharply with the principles of social interaction imposed by the political authorities of modern Bulgaria.

Die Reform des Autonomiestatuts der Region Trentino-Südtirol: Wiederherstellung eingeschränkter Kompetenzen und punktuelle Weiterentwicklungen

Happacher, Esther; Obwexer, Walter

The paper illustrates and comments on the genesis and content of the government-initiated draft for a constitutional law on ‘Modifications to the Special Statute for Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol’ (A. C. 2473), which originated in the context of the special autonomy of Alto Adige/Südtirol. The contribution also discusses the international anchorage of South Tyrolean autonomy and the international obligation of the Italian Republic to restore the standards of autonomy that in 1992 led to the settlement of the dispute before the UN between Austria and Italy on the fulfilment of Italy’s obligations under the Gruber-De Gasperi-Agreement of 1946.

Die Deutschsprachige Gemeinschaft und die (Kon)Föderalisierung Belgiens. Die Abschaffung des Senats als kritische Fallstudie

Liégeois, Vince

The German-speaking Community is one of Belgium’s federal entities. It plays a crucial role in protecting the rights of its German-speaking minority and providing government services in German. However, future institutional reforms - with some Flemish parties even advocating for a confederal Belgium - may threaten its autonomy. For example, the current federal government intends to abolish the Senate, Belgium’s upper chamber. If implemented, this reform would result in the German-speaking Community losing its only representation in the federal parliament and, by extension, at the federal level. Similarly, political debates surrounding the future of the Belgian state often overlook the needs of the German-speaking population, which could lead to the loss of other vital facilities. Consequently, this paper aims to (i) outline the challenges regarding the institutional positioning of the German-speaking Community and (ii) provide strategic recommendations for politicians, government officials, and scientists to improve this position. The proposed abolition of the Senate is used as a case study. Its discussion highlights how the German-speaking Community’s current position will be significantly impacted by the loss of its federal representative, potentially leading to long-term challenges for the German-speaking population. To address this, various alternative solutions are considered.