Prof. em. Dr. Hans Maier was friends with Miriam's father, Prof. Dr. Dr. Friedrich Friedmann.

Thanks to his great expertise, we were able to illustrate the history of anti-Semitism and anti-Judaism in the shortest possible form in the film.

We made the interview on 11 September 2018 in connection with our film "Die Stille schreit®".

Prof. em. Dr. Hans Maier was born on 18 June 1931 in Freiburg i. Br., Catholic. After graduating from high school (1951), he studied history, German and Romance languages and literature in Freiburg, Munich and Paris; scholarship holder of the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes; also active in Catholic youth work and as a freelancer for radio and newspapers. After passing the state examination for a higher teaching position (1956) and obtaining his doctorate (Dr. phil.), he worked as a freelancer in the radio and newspapers. (1957) Habilitation in political science as a pupil of Arnold Bergstraesser in the Freiburg Faculty of Philosophy (1962). Since 1962 married to Adelheid M., née Dilly, six children.

• Since December 1962 Professor of Political Science at the University of Munich.
• From 1966 to 1970 member of the German Education Council and deputy chairman of the Education Commission.
• From December 1970 to October 1986 Bavarian State Minister for Education and Culture.
• 1971 and 1982 President of the Standing Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs.
• From 1975 to 1986 President of the German National Committee for Monument Preservation.
• From 1985 to 1989 President of the German Stage Association.
• From 1976 to 1988 President of the Central Committee of German Catholics.
• From 1978 to the end of 1987 member of the Bavarian Parliament.
• At the beginning of 1988 he returned to the University of Munich: Takeover of the Chair of Christian Worldview, Religious and Cultural Theory (so-called Guardini Chair).
• Retirement on 30.09.99

(Source: Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Faculty of Philosophy, Philosophy of Science and Religious Studies).

You were close friends with Prof. Friedrich Friedmann. What spontaneous memories do you associate with him when you hear his name?

You were the youngest chair holder in Munich when you met  Professor Georg Friedmann in 1963.

What was your impression of him?

How did you perceive Prof. Friedrich Friedmann as a colleague and as a person?

To what extent did social grievances and economic crises in the Middle Ages act as accelerators of hatred and rigid actions against Jews?

Despite all the precursors, the anti-Semitism of National Socialism is singular. In what sense?

Terms like "Judas" still stand for betrayal today. The "Pharisee" for a hypocrite. Often the term "Jew" per se stands for an exploiter, a manipulator, an international conspiracy. To what extent could National Socialism instrumentalize these stereotypes and prejudices?