linked past and present. The speakers recalled the devastation of 1945 and at the same time recalled the importance of present-day tasks – to safeguard democracy, stand up against war and injustice and keep remembrance alive. One especially profound moment came when the group reflected on the perspective of women during the Nazi era – their stories, their experi- ences and their acts of resistance. This, too, is remembrance: not only what is told out loud, but also what has long been overlooked. For us, this experience delivered a powerful insight, namely that commemoration is not just retrospection. It is a mandate for the future.
to the testimony of a Polish survivor of the Sach- senhausen camp. His words made history imme- diate and was testament to the strength that lies in individuals and their narratives. We also heard from two artists from Ukraine, who shared their experiences of the current war. They connected the memory of the past with the pain of the present, reminding us that remembrance is not a closed chapter, but instead remains tied to the present. Many participants contributed their own fami- lies’ stories. Some linked the memory of the war eighty years ago with personal experiences of violence and loss. Their voices made clear that remembrance is not only a matter of collective history. Rather, it becomes human and percep- tible through the stories of individuals.
Remembering as a personal story
Remembrance is always personal. One of the most moving moments came when we listened
What remains – and what lies ahead?
Remembering through knowledge, through encounters, as part of a greater whole, and through personal stories: these four dimensions are what shaped Youth4Peace. That said, remem- brance does not end at the gates of a memorial. Nor does it begin only in the history books. Perhaps it begins in a conversation. In a moment of pause. In a question that cannot, or need not, be answered straight away.
Authors: Annika Gehring & Till Veerbeck-Stroetmann, Organizers
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