Genocide Scholar Tessa Hofmann Receives Germany’s Order of Merit
BERLIN – Dr. tessa Hofmann, a renowned scholar of genocide and human rights advocate, has been awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, one of the nation’s highest honors. The recognition, signed into effect by German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on June 13th, acknowledges Hofmann’s significant contributions to German society and her tireless work promoting awareness of historical injustices.
Hofmann is especially recognized for her decades-long advocacy for acknowledging the genocide against Armenians and other Christian minorities within the Ottoman Empire. Her efforts culminated in a landmark resolution passed by the Bundestag (German Parliament) in 2016, a pivotal moment for historical recognition and reconciliation. The award underscores Germany’s commitment to confronting its past and supporting those who champion human rights and historical truth.
The berlin Senate’s Department for Culture and Social Solidarity initiated the nomination, highlighting the importance of Hofmann’s civil society work. A letter from George klussmann, the Berlin Mayor’s chief of protocol, informed Hofmann of the honor on June 27th, stating her “exceptional personal achievements” had “made an outstanding contribution to the common good of the Federal Republic of Germany.”
Hofmann’s work extends beyond advocacy; she actively collaborated with organizations like the Promotional Society for the Ecumenical Monuments for Genocide Victims of the Ottoman Empire (FÖGG). Led in part by Amill Gorgis, a representative of the Syrian Orthodox Aramaean community, FÖGG erected monuments in a Berlin cemetery to commemorate the victims of the Ottoman genocide.
A formal ceremony to confer the Order of Merit on Dr. Hofmann will be held in Berlin on October 20th. The honor reflects not onyl her individual achievements but also the collective efforts of numerous German and minority groups – including Kurds, Alevites, armenians, and Greeks – who supported her nomination and share her commitment to justice and remembrance.
