History

The history of the Regional Association Lower Lusatia reflects its long-standing commitment to the Sorbian/Wendish language and culture. Key milestones – from its early association work to the Serbski dom | Wendish House in Chóśebuz | Cottbus – underline its central importance for the identity and cultural heritage of the region.

History of Domowina – Župa Dolna Łužyca | Regional Association Lower Lusatia

The history of the Regional Association Lower Lusatia is marked by significant events and developments that have made a decisive contribution to strengthening and preserving the Wendish/Sorbian language and culture. From the foundation of Domowina in 1912 to the establishment of the Serbski dom | Wendish House in Chóśebuz | Cottbus in 1990, these milestones reflect the commitment and resilience of the people. They underline the importance of the Regional Association for the cultural identity and historical heritage of Lower Lusatia.

 

  • Origins and Foundation

    13 October 1912: Foundation of Domowina in Wórjejce | Hoyerswerda as the Federation of Lusatian Sorbs of Upper and Lower Lusatia. Bogumił Šwjela from Lower Lusatia was elected Deputy Chair.

    1926: Reactivation of Maśica Serbska

    1928: The Main Assembly of Domowina adopts a protest resolution to the Prussian Government against discrimination of the Lower Sorbian language

    1930: 50th anniversary of Maśica Serbska

    9 May 1932: Premiere of the play “Aus dem Leben der Armen” (“From the Life of the Poor”) by Marjana Domaškojc in Prague

     

  • Women in Lower Sorbian festive costume at the fair in Chóśebuz | Cottbus, c. 1930. Photo: unknown photographer, Sorbian Cultural Archive at the Sorbian Institute.
    Women in Lower Sorbian festive costume at the fair in Chóśebuz | Cottbus, c. 1930. Photo: unknown photographer, Sorbian Cultural Archive at the Sorbian Institute.

    National Socialist Period and Reconstruction after 1945

    1933: The daily newspaper Serbski Casnik is discontinued.

    1937: Ban on events organised by Domowina and its affiliated associations.

    1941: Prohibition of church services in the Lower Sorbian language in Lower Lusatia.

    1945: Re-establishment of Domowina in Chrósćicy | Crostwitz.

    1946: Establishment of Domowina for Lower Lusatia in Wjerbno | Werben. Měto Lažki (1889–1972) becomes the first Chair.

    1947: The first post-war issue of Dolnoserbski Casnik is published.

    1949: The Brandenburg State Government authorises Domowina to carry out its own activities.

    1950: The Brandenburg State Government issues the “Ordinance on the Promotion of the Sorbian People”. First radio broadcast in the Lower Sorbian language.

     

     

    Women in Lower Sorbian festive costume at the fair in Chóśebuz | Cottbus, c. 1930. Photo: unknown photographer, Sorbian Cultural Archive at the Sorbian Institute.
  • Working Presidium of the 3rd Assembly of Domowina, 9 October 1952. Photo: Georg Just, Sorbian Institute.
    Working Presidium of the 3rd Assembly of Domowina, 9 October 1952. Photo: Georg Just, Sorbian Institute.

    Cultural Renewal

    1951: Sorbian cultural gathering in Burg. The first bilingual place-name signs are installed.

    1952: Introduction of Sorbian language instruction at five primary schools in the district of Chóśebuz | Cottbus.

    1 September 1952: Foundation of the Sorbian Secondary School in Chóśebuz | Cottbus, today the Lower Sorbian Grammar School.

    1953–1956: Establishment of the district associations of Domowina: Chóśebuz | Cottbus (district and city) in 1953; Gubin | Guben–Baršć | Forst in 1954; Kalawa | Calau–Lubnjow | Lübben in 1955; and Grodk | Spremberg in 1956.

    1 January 1954: Foundation of the Lower Sorbian Language School in Dešank | Dissenchen.

    1955: Nowy Casnik appears for the first time as an independent weekly newspaper.

    1966: First Festival of Sorbian Culture in Budyšin | Bautzen.

    1974: First staging of a theatre play in the Lower Sorbian language by the German-Sorbian People’s Theatre in Budyšin | Bautzen.

    1987: Reintroduction of church services in the Lower Sorbian language.

    1989: First Sorbian regulars’ table (Stammtisch).

     

    Working Presidium of the 3rd Assembly of Domowina, 9 October 1952. Photo: Georg Just, Sorbian Institute.
  • 1933
    Coal mining in Lower Lusatia – expansive open-cast landscape with conveyor bridges and extraction areas. Photo: Marcel Schwickerath, Domowina.
    Coal mining in Lower Lusatia – expansive open-cast landscape with conveyor bridges and extraction areas. Photo: Marcel Schwickerath, Domowina.

    Contemporary Sorbian Cultural Life

    1990: Opening of the Serbski dom | Wendish House in Chóśebuz | Cottbus.

    31 May 1991: Foundation of the Domowina Regional Association Lower Lusatia (Župa Dolna Łužyca).

    29 August – 1 September 1991: Days of Sorbian Culture of Lower Lusatia in Janšojce | Jänschwalde.

    1991: Establishment of the Foundation for the Sorbian People.

    1992: Article 25 of the Constitution of the State of Brandenburg guarantees protection and promotion of the Sorbs/Wends. Opening of the “Lodka” at the Serbski dom | Wendish House in Chóśebuz | Cottbus. Broadcast of the first Lower Sorbian-language television programme Łużyca on the public broadcaster ORB.

    1993: Re-establishment of Maśica Serbska.

    1994: The Brandenburg State Parliament adopts the “Law on Settling the Rights of the Sorbs (Wends) in the State of Brandenburg”. Election of the first Council for Sorbian (Wendish) Affairs; Harald Końcak becomes its first Chair. Days of Sorbian Culture in Raduš | Raddusch. Opening of the Serbski muzej Chóśebuz | Wendish Museum Cottbus.

    1995: First young talent concert of Sorbian/Wendish music organised by ORB in Chóśebuz | Cottbus.

    1997: First meeting of Sorbian associations in Hochoza | Drachhausen.

    1 March 1998: Opening of the first “Witaj” nursery in Chóśebuz-Žylow | Cottbus-Sielow.

    1997: First Ball of Sorbian Harvest Queens in Hochoza | Drachhausen.

    5–7 June 1998: Sorbian/Wendish Cultural Festival in Hochoza | Drachhausen.

    1999: Election of the second Council for Sorbian/Wendish Affairs at the Brandenburg State Parliament in Potsdam.

    2004: Election of the third Council for Sorbian/Wendish Affairs at the Brandenburg State Parliament in Potsdam.

    2007: First performances in Lower Lusatia by all folklore ensembles of the International Folklore Festival “Lausitz 2007”.

    2007: The Domowina Regional Association Lower Lusatia joins the “Initiative against New Open-Cast Coal Mines”.

     

    Coal mining in Lower Lusatia – expansive open-cast landscape with conveyor bridges and extraction areas. Photo: Marcel Schwickerath, Domowina.

The Regional Association Lower Lusatia Today

The Domowina – Župa Dolna Łužyca | Regional Association Lower Lusatia today brings together a large number of active local groups, cultural and heritage associations, traditions and traditional costume associations, ensembles and many committed youth groups. Together, they work to preserve and revitalise the Lower Sorbian language, maintain living customs and traditions, and strengthen regional identity.

Youth associations in particular organise projects, festivals and initiatives with great energy, making a significant contribution to the future of the Sorbian language in Lower Lusatia.


Chair of the Regional Association

Since its foundation, the Regional Association Lower Lusatia has been led by numerous committed individuals. They have made a decisive contribution to preserving Lower Sorbian culture and sustaining the language and community life in the region. Through their work, the Chairs have shaped the development of the Association and have advocated for the interests of the Wends/Sorbs in challenging times.

Župa Dolna Łužyca | Regional Association Lower Lusatia

1990 - 1991     Wili Gusor
1991 - 1992     Uta Henšelowa
1993 - 2000     Bjarnat Rjentš
2000 - 2002     dr. Fryco Libo
2002 – 2004     Bjarnat Rjentš
2004 - 2009     Pětš Petrick
2009 – 2013     dr. Madlena Norbergowa
2013 - 2015     Měto Nowak
2015 – 2017     Harald Końcak
2017 - 2021     William Janhoefer
2021 - 2025     dr. Pětš Šurman
since 2025     Michael Apel

 


Župa Dolna Łužyca | Regional Association of Lower Lusatia
1946–1948: Měto Lažki
1949–1950: Gerat Hantška / Wylem Arndt
1950–1951: Fryco Fobo
1951–1952: Herbert Funka (Secretary)

Wobwodny sekretariat Chóśebuz | District Secretariat Cottbus
1952–1953: Heinrich Paulick (Secretary)
1953–1961: Herbert Funka (Secretary)
1962–1963: Fryco Nakońc (Secretary)

Župa Chóśebuz | District Association Cottbus
1953–1957: Karlo Jordan
1957–1963: Fryco Herow / Richard Lehmann
1963–1989: Jurij Pěčka

Župa Gubin/Baršć | District Association Guben/Forst
1954–1957: Fryco Fobo
1957–1978: Horst Jašan
1978–1990: Werner Młynk

Župa Kalawa/Lubin | District Association Calau/Lübben
1955–1967: Wili Gubac
1967–1975: Maks Kerstan
1975–1978: Norbert Ferdinand
1978–1990: Manfred Šmit

Župa Grodk | District Association Spremberg
1956–1964: Reinhard Nowotnik
1964–1971: Alfred Korniš
1971–1975: Korla Šreter
1975–1982: Maks Bonka
1982–1990: Hinc Šnajder


More on this topic