Blue Route

If you’re interested in the Second World War and its consequences right up to the present day, and if you want to talk about it with a large group of other young people from all over Europe, debate the issues and get different perspectives on the Second World War and what it means for your future, then apply here.

ST. PETERSBURGThe Blue Route starts with a preparatory workshop in Saint Petersburg. Afterwards, you will learn there in detail about the Leningrad Blockade, which led to the deaths of a million people, most of them civilians, during the Second World War. From St. Petersburg, you will travel by night train to the Baltic states.RIGAIn Riga, the capital of Latvia, you’ll visit the Occupation Museum, which tells the story of a country dominated by foreign rule in a constant state of division, and find out about people´s different lives in Latvia (and in the other Baltic states).KAUNASFrom Riga, the journey takes you to Lithuania. In Kaunas you will then talk about the changing roles and meanings of places. You’ll visit the Ninth Fort, which was built as a fortress during the First World War. During the Soviet era, it was used as a prison, where political prisoners suffered from repression. When the country was occupied by Germany during the Second World War, Jews from all over Europe were murdered here. Later, the site was again used as a prison. Today, the Ninth Fort, with its multi-faceted history, is a place of remembrance.Copyright: A. Davey on FlickrGOLMYou’ll complete your journey with a final workshop at the International Youth Meeting and Education Centre in Golm on the island of Usedom. There, you’ll have plenty of time to reflect on everything you’ve seen and experienced and to talk about it in the group.GDÁNSKFrom Kaunas, you’ll continue by bus to Gdánsk in Poland. There, you’ll visit the Westerplatte peninsula and the Polish Post. It is here that the Second World War began, with the attack by Germany on Poland. You will also visit the Stutthof Concentration Camp Memorial Site, where the focus will be on the destruction of human life. Copyright: Polimerek

Along the Blue Route, you’ll gain an in-depth insight into the many facets of the Second World War and its impact on our present-day lives and our future. You’ll get to know different perspectives and narratives, and share exciting experiences with your fellow travellers.

If you want to take part in the adventure, join us here on the Blue Route, that takes you through the history of the southern Baltic Sea states!

Other routes

Orange Route

Do you want to travel by bike from Auschwitz to Westerbork in the Netherlands? Then why not try the Westerbork Route: Oświęcim – Gliwice – Dresden – Bergen-Belsen – Westerbork?

Green Route

How about travelling from Berlin to France, through Germany and the Czech Republic? Register for the Weimar – Prague – Munich – Verdun route!