Susanne Bliemel: First East German to win the Low German Literature Prize!

Susanne Bliemel: First East German to win the Low German Literature Prize!

On November 7, 2025, Susanne Bliemel, who comes from Banzkow near Schwerin, will be awarded the 34th Low German Literature Prize of the city of Kappeln. This honor is given to her for her remarkable commitment and literary work in Low German. Bliemel is the first East German to receive this prestigious prize, which is worth 3,000 euros and has been awarded since 1984 in collaboration with the Schleswig-Holstein Local History Association. The celebratory award ceremony takes place in the old machine hall in Kappeln, and the anticipation is great.

The award not only honors Bliemel's Low German stories, but also her tireless commitment to the language and culture of Low German. This is how she has made a name for herself beyond the borders of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Her texts authentically reflect everyday life in Mecklenburg and deal with both the time before and after the fall of communism. She has also created Low German versions of the popular cult comics “Die Abrafaxe” and presented teaching material for Low German school lessons, which underlines her passion for the language.

A diverse literary work

Bliemel not only contributes her own literary talent, but is also actively involved in training. Since 2001 she has hosted the Low German program “De Plappermoehl” on NDR 1 Radio MV and regularly offers Low German courses, which are extremely popular with those interested and are often booked out quickly. Her literary work is diverse and includes humorous everyday stories with a special focus on the Low German language.

Her most recent book “Von Fall tau Fall” contains adaptations of absurd texts by the Russian author Daniil Charms and shows Bliemel's talent for transferring current topics into the cultural context of Low German. From 2027 she will also be the editor of the local calendar “Voss and Haas” at Hinstorff-Verlag, which further consolidates her role as an important voice in Low German literature.

Culture in transition

The Low German Literature Prize has developed over the years into an important anchor for the language and culture. Last year's winner was the Institute for Low German Language, which shows how much attention the prize places on the promotion and further development of Low German literature. Bliemel himself emphasizes the importance of creating opportunities to speak Low German and thus keeping the local culture alive.

With her award, she is not only celebrated in her home community, but also recognized as an ambassador for the Low German language beyond the borders of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Their success is a successful example of how important cultural commitment is for the preservation and promotion of regional languages ​​and how, with a good hand, you can advance not only your own career, but also local culture.