Nils Friedrich in Mainz: Jewish 05ers between Remembrance and Club History

Jewish 05ers: A Forgotten Club History Becomes Audible

When a football club tells its history, not only seasons, tables, and sporting successes come to the fore. In the reading and discussion “Once upon a time”: Jewish 05ers at the Landesmuseum Mainz, the focus is on Jewish individuals who were engaged with 1. FSV Mainz 05 between 1905 and 1933. The author Nils Friedrich makes this previously little-known connection visible and thus opens a space for remembrance, historical responsibility, and cultural dialogue.

Literature as Trace Research

At the center of the event is Friedrich’s fanzine “Once upon a time”. The publication connects research, club history, and biographical approaches. It asks who the Jewish 05ers were, what role they played in club life, and why the engagement with this part of history started so late.

The narrative power of the evening arises from the connection of documentary accuracy and personal author encounter. Historical names and life paths appear not as abstract data but as concrete traces of a civic society, whose diversity also became visible in sports.

Between Club Life and Remembrance Culture

The reading touches on a central cultural discourse: How do institutions remember those who have been displaced, overlooked, or not adequately honored in their history? 1. FSV Mainz 05 serves as the historical starting point for a broader reflection on belonging, exclusion, and responsibility.

In conversation with Michael Bonewitz, Nils Friedrich discusses his research and the creation of the fanzine. The format combines reading, historical discussion, and journalistic trace research. It is this mixture that gives the evening its special literary quality: language becomes a tool through which buried history re-enters the public space.

An Evening in the Sign of the SchUM Cultural Days

The event takes place within the framework of the SchUM Cultural Days and thus fits into a program that makes Jewish life, history, and cultural presence in Mainz and the region visible. The Landesmuseum Mainz offers a culturally appropriate setting for remembrance: Between exhibits, historical testimonies, and a concentrated reading atmosphere, a literary experience with special depth is created.

Conclusion: Encountering History Live

Visitors can expect a compelling reading about Jewish individuals in the environment of 1. FSV Mainz 05, complemented by a discussion about research, remembrance, and the late engagement with club history. Those who understand literature as a gateway to historical life worlds will experience an author encounter that has an impact beyond the evening. Admission is free.

Official Channels of Nils Friedrich:

• Instagram: no official profile found
• Facebook: no official profile found
• Website: no official profile found
• Publisher: no official profile found

Sources:

• Jewish Mainz – Once upon a time: Jewish 05ers – Reading and Discussion
• City of Mainz – Event Calendar