"Das Band" is the newsletter of the Israelitische Taubstummenanstalt ("Jewish Deaf-Mute Institute"). The Institute was founded by Markus Reich in 1873. Reich wanted to create an education program for deaf children that taught them to function independently as well as connected them to their Jewish heritage. Learning to speak was also an important aspect of his school. Reich's program was influential in the development of education for deaf children. Markus Reich's family was heavily involved in the school, including his son Felix Reich, who eventually took over the school. The school managed to stay open during the period of National Socialism. During this period, the students were threatened by the statute of compulsory sterilization of people with disabilities enacted by the Nazis in 1933. In 1938, Felix Reich was interned at the Sachsenhausen concentration camp. After his release, he immigrated to England with 10 deaf kindergarten children. After World War II broke out, Felix Reich lost contact with the remaining staff at the school and was not able to further assist the students and teachers. The Israelitische Taubstummenanstalt remained open until |