Hinweis zum Sprachgebrauch in älteren Beiträgen
Der folgende ältere Beitrag kann Sprache und Formulierungen enthalten, die heute nicht mehr den Ansprüchen einer diskriminierungsfreien und sensiblen Ausdrucksweise entsprechen. Er wurde im historischen Kontext verfasst und bewusst unverändert gelassen, um unsere jahrzehntelange Menschenrechtsarbeit zu dokumentieren.
Berlin, 24th October 2008
Film release: „Anonyma – Eine Frau in Berlin”
German victims of rape speak out in public at the German première of the film „Anonyma – Eine Frau in Berlin”
We welcome the fact that this film is being now shown. It is time to show this situation in a film in such a way that people can get an idea of what happened. However the film does not show the horrors we experienced, the horrors which have made us victims of the war.
We appeal to the German public and especially to the media and the political parties to recognize at last our suffering as innocent victims.
We have long missed genuine sympathy and comfort for the pain caused to our souls, and this pain remains with us to the present day.
There was no escape for us – the soldiers marched through our country. From January 1945 until May (and often much longer) we were treated as fair game. Not by one or two – but often again and again, one after another.
They took everything, even women and children. There were many children with us. The mothers could only protect them by sacrificing themselves. We bear the consequences to the present day: We have concealed from our husbands what we went through. Sexually transmitted diseases healed by the time we got married, but often incurable childlessness remained.
We lived in thousands of villages and towns and went through hell, in
constant fear of our lives – the constant fear of the Soviet soldiers.
We know that the fear which we had then has remained with us. We are afraid of our own dreams. We are suffering from mental damage, perhaps we are ill. We receive no treatment for this pain, for this trauma. We bear it to the present day, but they tell us that it is all so long ago and does not need any treatment. We were not recognized as casualties of war like the men, who lost their limbs in battle, who were treated and given compensation and who received war pensions. What do we leave behind for our children? – Fear? Mistrust? Or trust?
We have worked hard for peace and reconciliation – but our sisters there are going through the wars and war crimes which we went through – in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in Darfur. Women and children are once more the victims, without prospect of being compensated in any way for their struggle.
We appeal to the general public: Take our suffering seriously and give us
comfort. Then our tears can help to prevent conflicts and wars all over the world!
We are breaking our silence to prevent future suffering.
Der Frauenverband im BdV e.V. (The Women’s Association in the Federation of Expellees)
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