Andreas Bönte

During a hospital stay due to anxiety disorders, journalist Andreas Bönte gains his first shocking insights into his own family history. Further research reveals that his grandfather, who took his own life in December 1944, had held a leadership position in the SA and had led a mob on November 9, 1938—known as “Kristallnacht.” His mother was an enthusiastic member of the BDM and found her father shot dead in her parents’ home. Due to the trauma and shame, the family’s Nazi past was kept secret for decades. In his book, Andreas Bönte recounts his research, which confronted him with his own family’s Nazi past, his immersion in a world of repression, and the way the trauma was passed down to him. These are experiences shared by many in the boomer generation. The book features numerous photographic documents from the author’s archive.

Andreas Bönte will discuss the topic with psychologist and author Louis Lewitan. The band “MaselTov” will provide musical accompaniment for the evening.

MaselTov is a blend of traditional Yiddish, Eastern European, and—in particular—Balkan music, performed with great emotion, ranging from melancholic to lively and fiery. A musical experience beyond the mainstream of rock and pop music.