Uckermark author enthusiastic about tobacco stories-book price-nominated!

Uckermark author enthusiastic about tobacco stories-book price-nominated!

What's going on in the Uckermark? In the picturesque region around Schwedt, where tobacco cultivation has played a major role since the 18th century, a lot is happening again. Anke Grodon, the museum director in Schwedt, has launched an interview series with contemporary witnesses of the tobacco cultivation to capture the fascinating life stories of these people. "Nordkurier" reports that the traces of the tobacco cultivation in the region are still visible in many buildings and barns. This keeps the important story of the tobacco alive.

Eva-Martina Weyer, a journalist, was infected by Grodon's initiative and researched intensively to write her book "Tabakpech". In her research, she collected many stories and impressions that she processed in her work. The book deals with a cross -generational family history, centered around the farmer Elfie and extends over the years 1930 to 1996. Weyer highlights the challenges of tobacco cultivation and the cohesion of families who lived in this industry. At a reading in the cabaret hall of the Prenzlau Dominican monastery, she was able to inspire listeners with stories of her childhood and the special moments at work in tobacco cultivation. Her book, which was already presented at the Book Fair in Frankfurt/Main and the Book Fair in Leipzig, is particularly important and was published by the Munich Verlag Stroux Edition.

A look at tobacco history

The history of tobacco cultivation in the Uckermark goes back 300 years. Schwedt was one of the largest tobacco growing regions at the GDR period and played a crucial role in the local economy. According to rbb, tobacco brought prosperity into the Oder region and was an important source of income for many families. Uckermark Tabak GmbH is also the last East German tobacco producer. While the small cultivation projects in the families ended about 12 years ago, people in the region continue to maintain their memories and stories.

The Tobacco Museum Vierraden plays a crucial role in dealing with these memories. It views, prepared and documents the stories of contemporary witnesses of the tobacco cultivation, which is of great importance for the next generation. Weyer also worked on the “tobacco-country-life” project, where the cultural wealth of tobacco is treated in film and literary.

A look into the future

The contemporary witnesses and their stories are an indispensable part of the regional culture of remembrance that must not be forgotten. Memories such as that of Monika Schmidt, which tells of her childhood and work in tobacco cultivation, and Edeltraud Hase, which reports on the savings for a trabant, are just a few examples of how the tobacco cultivation has shaped the lives of these people.