URL: http://www.bpb.de/veranstaltungen/format/studienreise/76332/diary

Diary

August 16th, 2010 (Seeon)

Today the programme Go Africa... Go Germany... of the Federal Agency for Civic Education (Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung/bpb) started at the Seeon Monastery. The theme of the day was German history since the Second World War. The group of 26 German and African participants had the honour of being addressed by Prof Dr. Wolfgang Benz, Prof. em. Dr. Christoph Kleßmann and Prof. Dr. Görtemaker.
Prof. Dr. Benz addressed the group on the rise of National Socialism in Germany from 1933 to 1945. Although the German partof the group was aware of the matter due to history lessons at school, they had the advantage of broadening their knowledge of this subject by a renowned expert in the field. For the African participants the information on the political and social conditions that lead to the rise of Nazism and Anti-Semitism was especially of value.

Prof. em. Dr. Kleßmann adressed the multicultural group on German history in the East and West between 1945 to 1989. He put this political event within a more international context. In that way the group was educated on the role of Germany within the broader, post World War, European situation. ´ Prof. Dr. Görtemaker discussed German history of the past 20 years. He paid special attention to the unification process, foreign policy as well as the effects of the unification on social and political life in Germany.

At the end of this informative first day the scholarship holders had the chance of discussing their own questions in smaller groups with the speakers of the day.

Gys Hough and Lena König