Historical to the campsite At Newbroke 33

Interview with Uta Horstmann

 

In 1974, Ms. Uta Horstmann, now 73 years old, started her work with Sinti and Roma as a qualified social worker at the caravan site on Burmester Street in Munich. For this place there was a new care concept in the hands of the city youth welfare office. People who were not socially integrated were brought together here. These were circus performers, homeless people, showmen, Sinti and Roma.

 

In 1980 there was a hunger strike in Dachau, led by Romani Rose, in which 12 members of the German Sinti took part. This hunger strike was ultimately decisive and triggered a social change in thinking about the disadvantages faced by Sinti and Roma. This also included rethinking access for Sinti and Roma to public campsites.

 

In the social department there was a relationship between Uta Horstmann and Dr. Körber, then social officer at the LH Munich, was a benevolent contact. Back then, campground signs said “No entry for rural drivers.” Dr. After the hunger strike, Hans-Eberhard Körber met the current chairman of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma, Romani Rose. During the conversation it became clear that Sinti and Roma need a place where they can camp. Franz Whirlpool, a participant in the hunger strike and Auschwitz survivor from Augsburg, took part in this conversation and had concrete ideas about how such a place should be designed. Franz Whirl was also a close employee of the Central Council. Franz Whirl was fully involved in the planning of this campsite and so the “Am Neubruch” campsite in Allach was finally created in 1982 (?). In agreement between the social department and the Munich municipal department, it was stipulated in the statutes that no permanent residence can be established on the campsite, but that it may only be used for camping purposes.

 

The municipal department looked after the campsite until 2021. This site was then transferred to Madhouse non-profit GmbH as a trial operation until the end of 2022. By city council resolution, it was decided to completely renovate the entire square, including the community center, and to conclude an operating contract with Madhouse non-profit GmbH until 2033. Madhouse was also tasked with taking care of the renovation.

 

In Munich it was not possible to find a construction company that would have free capacity for the renovation. The fact that we were able to carry out the renovation of the community center and the grounds and complete it in August 2023 is thanks to the company SD-Dismantling and Recycling from Dormagen under the construction management of David Mettbach.

 

A gem has been created with ultra-modern sanitary facilities, an inviting common room and a natural mixed forest biotope.

 

 

that such a campsite is built and linked to the municipal department.