Green Route

Are you excited by the idea of discovering the eventful history of the 20th century and learning more about it together with other young people from all over Europe? Do you want to experience history at places of remembrance and commemoration, and hear the stories of the people who were involved? And discuss what you have learned with other young Europeans? Then register for one of these two routes.

 

BERLIN The Green Route starts with a preparatory workshop in Berlin. Afterwards, you will go from there to Weimar.WEIMARIn Weimar, you’ll visit two places that represent the beginning and the end of the Weimar Republic (1919-1933), which are located not far from each other: the “House of the Weimar Republic” and the Buchenwald Concentration Camp Memorial Site.PRAGUEThe route then continues to Prague. There are various places to visit in the Czech capital that tell a story of occupation, resistance and liberation. In Lidice, near Prague, you will learn about the massacre that took place there. The village was completely destroyed in 1942 by the National Socialists, in revenge for the murder of Reinhard Heydrich. Heydrich was the deputy “Reich Protector of Bohemia and Moravia” and as the head of the Reich Main Security Office, he was one of the key figures responsible for the Holocaust. He was fatally injured by Czech resistance fighters during an assassination attempt.As well as finding out more about the horrific events that occurred under the National Socialist regime, you will also explore the changing history of Prague together with young Czechs, and visit the Museum of Communism. There’ll also be time to enjoy the beautiful buildings in the city.MUNICHLeaving Prague behind you, you’ll return to Germany. In Munich, you’ll ask yourselves where National Socialism and its ideology originated. How did Hitler come to power? What events led to social exclusion, war and destruction? Can we learn anything from the catastrophe that was National Socialism? It’s not possible to return the victims of the war to life, but we can give them back their biography. In the Waldfriedhof, or forest cemetery, in Munich, you’ll be shown war graves - not simply of dead soldiers, but of people who had lives of their own, and who had plans and hopes for the future. You’ll have the opportunity to take a closer look at their individual stories.In the evening, there’ll be plenty of time to find out more about their lives in a relaxed atmosphere, over dinner with young people from Munich.SCHENGENThis question takes you on to the next stop along the way, in Schengen, a small town in Luxembourg. It was here that the Schengen Agreement was signed, which enables almost entirely unchecked travel within the EU. The route ends with a visit to the European Museum, and a discussion about the European concept, before you travel on to Niederbronn-les-Bains for a final workshop in the Youth Meeting and Education Centre.Copyright: Axel Kirch BODENSEEOn the shore of Lake Constance, the focus will be on the First World War, which led to the deaths of 17 million people. There, you’ll visit a Germanic-heathen war memorial, which is highly characteristic of the memorials to dead soldiers that were built after the First World War. They were an expression of a hero cult, but were not designed to encourage historical reflection. The architects of these memorial complexes, and the official authorities that ordered their construction, attempted to give the war meaning in retrospect.VERDUNIn Verdun, you will also come face to face with powerful reminders of trench warfare during the First World War in the Alsace region. The burial grounds and the Memorial de Verdun will lead you to ask: What is war? What do the wars of the past have to do with us, and with Europe? How can we make sure that nothing like this ever happens again?Copyright: Jean-Pol GrandmontHARTMANNSWILLERKOPFThe monument on the Hartmannswillerkopf hill in France clearly expresses the real senselessness of the battles and trench warfare that took place. The hill is also known as the “devourer of human life”, since around 30,000 French and German soldiers were killed here during the First World War in static battles all around the hill. In 2017, the German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the French State President Emmanuel Macron inaugurated a German-French museum dedicated to the battles and commemorating the men who died there.Copyright: Dornenwolf on FlickrNIEDERBRONN-LES-BAINSIn Niederbronn-les-Bains you’ll have plenty of time to reflect on everything you’ve seen and experienced and to talk about it in the group.Copyright: Patrick Nouhailler

The Green Route takes you through an eventful century of European history. Those who are familiar with the past can shape the future. You will also learn about different national narratives, and will have the exciting opportunity to meet young people from many different countries.

If you want to join the route, then register here!

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?

Blue Route

Does the thought of travelling from St. Petersburg to the border between Germany and Poland via the Baltic coast excite you? Then the St. Petersburg – Rīga– Kaunas – Gdańsk route is the right one for you.