At the 23rd International Book Fair in Guatemala (FILGUA 2026), which takes place from July 7 to 19, 2026, Germany is the guest of honor. This role is marked by an extensive cultural and educational program, in addition to the presentation of published works. As part of the cultural program, an exhibition based on a research project by the IAI is being held.
The project “Letters between Guatemala and Germany: A family correspondence from the time of National Socialism (1935–1939)”
Since 2017, the IAI has preserved the Becker family’s legacy, which consists of family correspondence involving multiple participants comprising approximately 350 documents and a photo album. The family wrote to their eldest son, who was in Hamburg pursuing his vocational training. The letters from the Becker family in Guatemala describe daily life in the so-called “German colony,” their economic successes and failures, and their plans for the future. Political events in Germany and Guatemala are also mentioned in detail in the letters. Another important theme in the letters is the issue of multiple identities and allegiances spanning two continents (among other things, different languages, cultural practices, norms, and representations).
This collection forms the basis of a research project on the editing of letters, which received support from the Beauftragter der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien (BKM, Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media) between November 2023 and March 2026.
The Exhibition at the Book Fair
The International Book Fair in Guatemala now offers an opportunity to present some of the project’s findings. Eight panels explore how different family members answer the question of their identity and their sense of belonging to Germany or Guatemala, and what factors may have influenced each response. In addition, thanks to an interview and other contacts with descendants of the family members who participated in the correspondence, it was possible to show how the family situation evolved after exchange of letters ended.
A lecture with a family gathering
As part of a lecture included in the Book Fair’s cultural program, other important aspects of the correspondence were highlighted and explained. This lecture took place in a very special setting: about 30 members of the Becker family, spanning several generations, were in the audience.
