"No country has as much responsibility as Germany
to ensure the future of Jewish life."
With the original text of Thomas Mann's radio broadcast,
read by Sandra Hüller.
- Thomas Mann's Radio Address from May 10, 1945
00:00 Min.
Historical classification
00:54 Min.
Beginning of the speech, read by Sandra Hüller
06:12 Min.
Introduction to Charlotte Knobloch
07:08 Min.
Commentary by Charlotte Knobloch
About Charlotte Knobloch
Charlotte Knobloch has been president of the Israelitische Kultusgemeinde München und Oberbayern since 1985. From 2005 to 2013, she was vice president of the World Jewish Congress (WJC).
About the Project
“Hell, Germans, has come upon you.” Thomas Mann’s message in his radio addresses to the German people—recorded by himself and broadcast by the BBC between 1940 and 1945—was always clear, unyielding, and uncompromising. So too was his mission: the total of 58 addresses constitute a unique document of resistance against the National Socialist regime of terror and a resolute plea for humanism and democratic renewal. They were also a failed wake-up call to a country that had surrendered itself to delusion and to complete destruction.
On the occasion of Thomas Mann’s 150th birthday, the BBC radio addresses were newly recorded by actress Sandra Hüller. Thirteen outstanding contemporary voices from politics, academia, and culture comment on them, enter into dialogue with Mann’s texts, and discuss their relevance today.