Awarding recognition in educational endeavors: Dr. Matthias Köberle presented with the Huguenot medal
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In a moving ceremony at the town hall of Neu-Isenburg, Dr. Matthias Koeberle, Head of Department at the Goetheschule Neu-Isenburg, was presented with the Hugenottenmedaille by Mayor Dirk Gene Hagelstein. The award recognises Dr. Koeberle's outstanding commitment to remembrance culture, historical education, and the "Remembering and Commemorating" project.
The Hugenottenmedaille is a symbolic object that represents the cultural memory of the Huguenots, Protestant refugees primarily from France who faced persecution in the 16th and 17th centuries and settled in various parts of Europe and beyond. Dr. Koeberle's research focuses on the historical context and significance of the medal, its design, and distribution, and its contemporary use as an educational tool and a means of cultural identity formation.
The "Remembering and Commemorating" initiative, led by Dr. Koeberle, aims to deepen public awareness of the Huguenot experience through interdisciplinary approaches, including history, art history, material culture studies, and memory studies. The project has undergone continuous development since 2020, with recent advancements including exhibitions, public talks, and publications that showcase the medal’s artistic, historical, and commemorative dimensions.
Mayor Hagelstein emphasised the importance of Dr. Koeberle's work, stating that it enables students to have a history lesson that leaves lasting impressions. This sentiment is reflected in the school's remembrance culture, which includes annual study trips to Auschwitz, a practice that has been a fixed part of the Goetheschule's curriculum since 2018.
This year's study trip was supervised by teachers Michael Langhans and Michaela Schmitt, and the resulting exhibition, "Children in Auschwitz," was shown at the town hall on the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp. The exhibition aims to give the victims of fascist crimes names and personal stories, providing a powerful reminder of the atrocities committed during the Holocaust.
The exhibition "Children in Auschwitz" is an annual event at the town hall, commemorating the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp. It is a testament to the school's commitment to remembrance and education, and Dr. Koeberle's central role in these efforts has been recognised with the Hugenottenmedaille.
Dr. Koeberle has been a central companion and supporter of the project from its beginning, and his ongoing efforts involve collaborating with museums, academic institutions, and cultural organisations to expand the reach and impact of the project. By preserving and appreciating the Huguenots’ legacy in contemporary memory culture, Dr. Koeberle's work contributes to a broader understanding of how material culture shapes and sustains memory over centuries.
The "Remembering and Commemorating" project, led by Dr. Koeberle, is not only focused on the Huguenots but also encourages personal growth and learning by delving into interdisciplinary approaches, fostering a deeper understanding of historical events and their impact. Dr. Koeberle's research on the Hugenottenmedaille serves as an essential education-and-self-development tool, promoting personal growth through the exploration of cultural memory and identity formation.
