Discover Łódź: Karl Dedecius Foundation study trip in October!

Discover Łódź: Karl Dedecius Foundation study trip in October!

The Karl Dedecius Foundation at the European University Viadrina invites you to a special study trip to Łódź, which will take place from October 1st to 5th, 2025. This trip is aimed at participants interested in culture and history and offers a diverse program. Loud europa-uni.de The program includes, among other things, a visit to the Manufaktura Łódź, a tour of the Museum of Cinematography and an excursion to street art. A special highlight will be a conversation with the translator Sława Lisiecka, who is considered an expert in translating German-language literature into Polish.

Participants also have the opportunity to experience a theater or concert. The cost of the trip is 495 euros per person and includes bus travel, overnight stays with half board, entrance fees and guided tours. The foundation aims to have the trip recognized as an educational holiday in order to create further incentive for those interested. However, those interested should register by Monday, June 30th at the latest to secure their place. Registrations can be made by email to kontakt@oec-ff.de. Further details about the program and organization are also available online.

Karl Dedecius: A legacy of translation

Karl Dedecius, born on May 20, 1921 in Łódź, has had a significant influence on the translation of Polish and Russian literature into German with his life's work. Dedecius, who was awarded the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade in 1990, was not only an accomplished translator, but also a prominent literary scholar. He joined the PEN Center Germany in 1967 and became a key figure in German-Polish cultural exchange in the following decades. Loud uepo.de He was the initiator of the German Poland Institute in Darmstadt and its director until the end of 1997.

Dedecius witnessed dramatic upheavals in his youth. He grew up in Łódź and experienced the horrors of the Second World War when he was drafted into the Wehrmacht and eventually became a Soviet prisoner of war. These experiences shaped his identity and his later works. During his time in captivity, he learned Russian and began to study literature intensively. After his return from captivity, he managed to pursue his passion for Polish culture in the form of translations that bridged the cultural barriers between Germany and Poland.

A lasting legacy

The European University Viadrina received part of his bequest in 2001 to establish the Karl Dedecius Literary Archive, dedicated to the study and promotion of Polish literature. Dedecius' major works, such as the 50-volume "Polish Library" and the seven-volume "Panorama of Polish Literature of the 20th Century", are tied to university collaboration in his will and continue to be studied and valued. Both political and cultural figures were present at the public ceremony marking the founding of the foundation in 2013, reflecting the enormous interest and respect that Dedecius enjoys in the literary world ( wikipedia.de ).