Rolf Roßmann: Excellent chronicler of the Griesen area!

Rolf Roßmann: Excellent chronicler of the Griesen area!

Rolf Roßmann, a 67-year-old historian from Berlin, has the honor of receiving this year's Johannes Gillhoff Literature Prize. The award was presented to him in a ceremonial setting in the Ludwigslust town hall. The chairman of the Johannes Gillhoff Society, Hartmut Brun, presented the prize together with the Mecklenburg Foundation and the Ludwigslust City Library. Roßmann was honored for his “historical, genealogical and ethnographic publications from the Griesen area,” an area that is particularly close to his heart. In previous years, many important historians and cultural scientists were also honored with this prize. These include personalities such as Kuno Karls, Ralf Wendt and Olaf Both, to name just a few.

His interest in history developed in the 1990s, when Roßmann began researching the history of his own family. The stories he collects about everyday events - from winter work and Mecklenburg cuisine to celebrations and the last country butcher shops - reflect his deep commitment to the region. “I want to preserve memories,” emphasizes Roßmann, who has conducted over 150 contemporary witness interviews. Given the advancing age of contemporary witnesses, he sees an urgent need to document their experiences before they are lost forever.

A life for history

Although Roßmann has lived in Berlin since 1977, he maintains regular contact with his hometown of Neu Kaliss. Here he interviews contemporary witnesses and uses their reports as valuable sources for his publications. The Griese area, where he grew up and where his family still lives, is a central point of reference for him not only geographically but also emotionally.

The Johannes Gillhoff Literature Prize itself was first awarded in 1980 and has since developed into an important award for authors who deal with regional history and culture. Gerhard Gillhoff, the nephew of the namesake, founded the prize in 1978, and it has been awarded in its current form since 2007, organized by the Johannes Gillhoff Society.

A look at the award winners

The list of winners of this literary prize shows an impressive range of authors who have distinguished themselves through their achievements. Here are some of the most recent personalities to be laureated:

• 2025: Rolf Roßmann, Historiker
• 2024: Olaf Both, Volkskundler
• 2023: Joachim Kolmer, Schriftsteller
• 2022: Ulrike Stern, Kulturwissenschaftlerin
• 2021: Dr. Christoph Schmitt, Volkskundler

For Roßmann, the award is not only a personal success, but also a sign of the importance of regional historiography. He follows a tradition that has already shaped many other historians and cultural scientists before him. “The stories of our ancestors are an invaluable heritage,” he reflects.

However, Roßmann has mixed feelings about the future of historiography in the Griesen area: “It is important that we tell the stories while we still have the voices of those who experienced them.” The urgency of questioning the contemporary witnesses in a timely manner remains a central concern for him, and so he will continue to work on his projects with full commitment.

Rolf Roßmann's work impressively shows how important it is to keep history alive and preserve it across generations. The award of the Johannes Gillhoff Literature Prize is not only an appreciation of his work, but also an impetus for many to explore and record their own roots and the stories of their region.

Further information about the Johannes Gillhoff Literature Prize can be found at Johannes Gillhoff as well as an overview of relevant German literary prizes Wikipedia.