AN INITIATIVE BY FOLKER ZÖLLER, HONORARY CONSUL IN MANNHEIM.
It was therefore at the invitation of Folker Zöller and the French Institute of Mannheim that a delegation, led by President Roland Gonieau and Gilles Chavant, Head of Conferences within our Committee, traveled to Mannheim from November 20 to 24, 2024.
AN INITIATIVE BY FOLKER ZÖLLER, HONORARY CONSUL OF MANNHEIM.
Upon our arrival on Wednesday evening, November 20, we were welcomed at the airport and taken to our hotel by Ms. Juliette Luquet, Director of the French Institute.
The stay began the following day, Thursday, November 21, with an official reception at the Mannheim City Hall, where we were welcomed by Mr. Christian Specht, the Mayor of the city, accompanied by Mr. Folker Zöller, Honorary Consul, Ms. Juliette Luquet, Ms. Solange Domisse from the French Institute of Mannheim, Mr. Richard Heil, our generous donor, Ms. Nessi Nezilla, a visual artist, Ms. Hummelberber (French teacher), and Mr. Weirether, the Director of the Ludwig Frank Gymnasium. The event was marked by warm and diverse exchanges.
We had lunch in Sinsheim at the Technical Museum, owned by Nessi’s family. It is one of the largest private museums in Europe, attracting over a million visitors each year. Founded in 1981 by Eberhard Layher, a German inventor and entrepreneur passionate about the history of technology, the museum is now managed by his son, Hermann Layher.
We had lunch in Sinsheim at the premises of the Technik Museum, owned by Nessi’s family. This is one of the largest private museums in Europe, attracting over one million visitors annually. Founded in 1981 by Eberhard Layher, a German inventor and entrepreneur passionate about the history of technology, the museum is now managed by his son, Hermann Layher.
The museum boasts an impressive collection of over 3,000 items displayed across an exhibition space of more than 50,000 square meters, both indoors and outdoors. Among its highlights are iconic aircraft such as Air France’s Concorde and the Tupolev Tu-144, the only two supersonic airliners in the world accessible to the public.
In addition to aircraft, the museum features a wide array of vehicles, including vintage cars, motorcycles, steam locomotives, sports cars, Formula 1 vehicles, and agricultural machinery. It also houses a collection of military artifacts and hosts special exhibitions that change over time.
In summary, the Auto & Technik Museum in Sinsheim is a must-visit destination for technology and history enthusiasts, offering a fascinating journey through the evolution of transportation and technical innovations.
On Friday, November 22, late in the morning, the first conference was held at the Ludwig-Frank-Gymnasium, a school encompassing both middle and high school levels. Before the start of our conference, we were warmly welcomed by a delightful musical ensemble, which performed the national anthems with great finesse. (P5 and P6)
Before an engaged audience of students and teachers, we recounted the tragic events of June 9, 1944, in Tulle, highlighting the atrocities committed by the Das Reich division and the subsequent suffering endured by grieving families. We emphasized the essential and vital transmission of this memory to younger generations. (P7 and P8) The regional press (Mannheimer Morgen) (P9) covered this conference.
The afternoon was dedicated to visiting the city of Heidelberg, home to 160,000 inhabitants and located about a twenty-minute drive from Mannheim. While primarily renowned for its university and research, Heidelberg is also a vibrant economic center. The city hosts companies in the fields of biotechnology, information technology, and tourism.
The Old Town (Altstadt), the historic center, with its cobbled streets, charming squares, and ancient buildings, is overlooked by the imposing castle, one of Germany’s most famous landmarks. The castle offers a spectacular view of the Neckar Valley. (P10)
We were able to spend several hours admiring these architectural treasures, guided by the insightful commentary of a guide graciously provided by our hosts. Sibylle Treugut, a teacher of German and French at the city’s high school, welcomed us for dinner at her home, accompanied by Dr. Heil, his wife, and Mrs. Murzat. It was a remarkable moment of sharing and friendship.
It is worth noting that our Martyrs’ Committee is well-acquainted with Sibylle Treugut, as she co-organized the event “Voyage Against Forgetting” that we hosted on October 19 at the Tulle Media Library.
On Saturday, November 23, following a lunch invitation by Folker Zöller, Honorary Consul, the afternoon was dedicated to visiting the Book Fair held in the Baroque Castle of Mannheim.
During his opening speech, Mayor Christian Specht expressed his gratitude for our participation and highlighted the presentation of Antoine Soulier’s book, “The Tragedy of Tulle.” President Roland Gonieau personally signed copies of the book (in German) for each buyer. (P11)
This was followed by a visit to the Kunsthalle Museum, focusing on Contemporary Art, particularly the “Progressive Art” of the 1920s. (P12)
At the end of the day, we delivered our second conference on the same theme: “The Tragic Events that Devastated Corrèze in June 1944, and the Tragedy of Tulle in Particular.” This was held at the Book Fair, where an older audience made up the majority of attendees. (P13 and P14)
It is worth noting that both of our conferences were delivered with simultaneous translation, which kept the audience particularly engaged.
EPILOGUE
We returned to Corrèze on the evening of Sunday, November 24.
This journey allowed us to experience five days filled with the extraordinary kindness and thoughtfulness of our hosts.
Our stay was consistently marked by empathy, kindness, thoughtfulness, warmth, and genuine friendship, reaffirmed by the repeated expressions of a strong desire for continued collaboration from each of our hosts. We extend our heartfelt thanks to them for this truly exceptional experience.
It is evident that our Committee will continue to respond positively to any actions and initiatives that contribute to strengthening Franco-German friendship.
