Briefing
Central German Broadcasting has announced the early-November broadcast of the documentary Neue Heimat Texas – In the footsteps of Sorbian emigrants. The 55-minute film will be broadcast on MDR television and will be available on the ARD media library. It was produced in Upper Sorbian with German subtitles.
Directed by Roman Nuck and Clemens Schmidt. The documentary follows the stories of families from Lusatia, who emigrated to North America in the 19th century and founded a new community in Serbin (Texas). The film links footage from towns in the Saxon and Brandenburg parts of Lusatia with current images from Serbin, and reconstructs the Atlantic crossing, including through the example of the sailing ship Ben Nevis.
According to the broadcaster, the production places personal stories in the context of the conditions of the time: agricultural hardship and a lack of economic prospects in parts of Lusatia, religious ties, and the prospect of work and community life in Texas are identified as key motives. The film also shows how language, church congregations and customs were maintained in the diaspora, and what traces of Sorbian identity remain visible there today. The film addresses specific historical figures and genealogical conclusions selectively; for further research, the accompanying broadcast materials point to archival sources.
MDR’s editorial team has framed the programme with additional features. The Sorbian magazine Wuhladko has introduced the making of the documentary and its main themes. Programme information confirms its running time, directors and language version, as well as its inclusion in a series of regional history programmes. The broadcaster is thus continuing its exploration of emigration from eastern Germany.
The coverage is prompted by the scheduled broadcasts on MDR television and the film’s availability on the ARD media library. The programme is aimed at audiences in Saxony and Brandenburg, as well as people interested in history across Germany. It focuses on how minority cultures pass on experiences of migration and establish themselves in a new environment. No plans for a possible follow-up or related projects have been announced so far.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).