Illustrations by a 1st-year graphic design student in a documentary about witches

We are pleased to announce the success of Barbara Gandys, a first-year student of Graphics (full-time Polish-language studies), whose illustrations were featured in a Deutsche Welle documentary about witches.

Documentary about witches

The documentary tells the story of a woman named Margarethe Kröber, who lived in the small village of Winningen. She is an ancestor of the narrator, Karin Helmstaedt. Margarethe was accused of witchcraft and met a tragic fate. Full of curiosity and a desire to uncover the truth about her ancestor's history, Karin traveled to Winningen, known for its 17th-century witch trials. Margarethe came from a respected family, was the wife of a judge, and had two young children. She faced accusations such as bringing Satan into the church and causing illnesses through food or drink. Despite her vehement assertions of innocence, Margarethe was tortured until she finally confessed and accused another woman of being a witch. Eventually, she was executed, and her body was burned on a hill in front of a crowd. The dark history of witch hunts and community complicity in her execution are brought to light, shedding light on the tragic consequences of such trials and the role of society within them.