Die Kinder aus Korntal

The Children of Korntal

The film addresses one of the largest abuse scandals in the Protestant Church in Germany. From the 1950s onward, hundreds of children were mistreated, forced into labor, and became victims of sexual violence in the homes of the Pietist Brethren community in Korntal, a small town in Baden-Württemberg. The scandal only became public in 2013, after which over 150 former residents of the homes broke their silence, leading to the identification of more than 80 perpetrators. Initially, the community reacted with skepticism and rejection, but the pressure for accountability increased. Although a process of reappraisal was initiated, many survivors criticize the methods and compensation amounts as inadequate, feeling that the process itself represents a new form of abuse. They continue to fight for recognition and to be heard.