"He tried to shake up the Germans and
wake them up and make them understand the situation the world
and the country were in and that they had to change course."
With the original text of Thomas Mann's radio broadcast,
read by Sandra Hüller.
- Thomas Mann's Radio Address from August 25, 1943
00:00 Min.
Historical classification
01:07 Min.
Beginning of the speech, read by Sandra Hüller
06:41 Min.
Introduction to Nicola Leibinger-Kammüller
07:28 Min.
Commentary by Nicola Leibinger-Kammüller
About Nicola Leibinger-Kammüller
Nicola Leibinger-Kammüller is a German-American manager and has been CEO of the mechanical engineering company Trumpf GmbH + Co. KG since 2005.
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.