Born in Dundee to a German mother and an Austrian father, Ivy was killed by the Nazis in 1940 because of a mild learning disability. She was only 29 years old. Credit: The Angerer Family.
Thirteen British-born victims of the Nazis’ war on disabled people, known to the regime as ‘life unworthy of life’, are being honoured in a special exhibition at Swansea University.
Finding Ivy – A Life Worthy of Life shares the untold stories of those affected by the Nazis’ Aktion T4 programme, a state-led initiative that resulted in the systematic killing of 70,000 adults with mental and physical disabilities during the Holocaust.
Through preserved archive material, reports, records from family members, and detailed biographies, the exhibition pays tribute to those who were tragically murdered during this dark period in history, including Ivy Angerer, who inspired the exhibition’s name.
Born in Dundee to a German mother and an Austrian father, Ivy was killed by the Nazis in 1940 because of a mild learning disability. She was only 29 years old.
The public can learn more about Ivy and twelve other victims who lost their lives in German and Austrian institutions during the Second World War at the exhibition in Swansea’s Singleton Park Library.
Professor David Turner, disability historian and Director of the Cultures and Communities Research Institute at Swansea University, said: “It is a privilege to be one of eight institutions across Germany and the UK—the first one in Wales—selected to host the Finding Ivy exhibition, and we encourage everyone to visit before it leaves Swansea on Thursday 10 April.
“At Swansea University, we are proud to lead the way in disability history research and teaching. We are committed to fostering progress in this important area through events that amplify key voices and through courses like our BA History programme and our newly established Learning Disability Nursing degree.”
Singleton Park Library will also host a free public event on Monday 10 March, featuring a Q&A session with Dr Simon Jarrett, a Swansea University graduate and co-curator of the Finding Ivy exhibition.
Dr Jarrett said: “We are delighted that Swansea University has generously agreed to host the Finding Ivy exhibition for its first visit to Wales during its European and UK tour.
“The exhibition tells a sad and disturbing story – how 13 people born in Britain were killed in the unimaginable horror of the Nazis’ murderous war against disabled people. We hope that our exhibition restores some dignity and humanity to a group of people regarded by the Nazis as ‘life unworthy of life’ by telling their amazing life stories.
“The exhibition also carries important messages about the treatment and status of disabled people and people with mental health difficulties in society today.”