Claudia Roth,Minister of State and Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, and Zilli Schmidt, who turned 98 last Sunday, met in Mannheim today for a subsequent birthday visit.
It was a long-awaited reunion after Zilli Schmidt and Claudia Roth met in April 2019 in Berlin during a visit of the historical witness. The then Vice-President of the Bundestag warmly welcomed Zilli Schmidt to her office. Shortly thereafter, she wrote the foreword to the foundation’s newly published historical witness report on Zilli Schmidt’s eventful life, entitled: “God had something in mind for me! Memories of a german Sintesa«.
Shortly before, Claudia Roth had also visited the historical witness Philomena Franz, who turns 100 years next week. She, too, has been reporting on the genocide of the Sinti and Roma of Europe as a survivor for many years.
Claudia Roth then said: “I was able to meet two impressive women this week. Two women who experienced the worst time in German history themselves. Philomena Franz and Zilli Schmidt survived the Holocaust. Both women are tireless fighters for the remembrance and recognition of the genocide of the Sinti and Roma. I am deeply grateful for their commitment. Voices like those of Philomena Franz and Zilli Schmidt are becoming rarer the longer the horror they can report on is behind. They are therefore becoming more and more precious.
Philomena Franz will be 100 years old next week. She was one of the first Sintesa in post-war Germany to raise her voice. Considering that the narrative of history was passed on and preserved almost exclusively within the families of Sinti and Roma, Philomena Franz’s book publications were an almost revolutionary step. Their commitment to coming to terms with the crimes of National Socialism is characterized by the conviction that love is stronger than hate.
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With Zilli Schmidt it was a hoped-for reunion and a late birthday visit. On Sunday she turned 98 years old. And as at our last meeting, I was immediately captivated by her warmth, her openness, her rousing laughter, but also by the courage to openly address grievances. I am infinitely grateful that she decided to tell her story.
It is an honor to meet these incredibly strong women. I bow to them.”
Claudia Roth was accompanied at the meetings by Romeo Franz, Member of the European Parliament, who has long been committed to a variety of ways against antiziganism and for the rights of Sinti and Roma.
