The year 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, the liberation of Europe by Soviet and American troops, and the moment when the full horror of Nazi atrocities was revealed to the general public. On the eve of this milestone, amid a backdrop of rising populism, far-right extremism, and the fading voices of the last Holocaust survivors, how should we commemorate this history in a pluralistic society? Which moments and figures have we chosen to remember? And how can we effectively combat historical misinformation?
To explore these Leitfragen, HBS Paris is organizing a study trip to Thuringia. Once a base and later a stronghold of the National Socialist Party from 1924 to 1945, Thuringia went on to become a border region of the GDR, followed by a massive deindustrialisation, before its integration into the FRG. Thuringia has become a microcosm of Germany’s historical and political divides: progressive-leaning cities contrast sharply with rural areas where far-right sentiment is strong. This divide was starkly reflected in the 2024 state elections, where the far-right AfD secured 32.8% of the vote. The trend deepened in the 2025 federal elections, with the AfD winning 38.6% of Thuringia’s vote—for comparisons, the national result is 20.8%.
Under Germany's federal structure, most of the funding for culture and education falls to the Land. For the time being, the cordon sanitaire appears to be under stress but intact, but this raises questions about the future of National Socialist heritage and educational programmes in the region: how can this memory be preserved? What is the historical continuity that runs through this region, at the heart of 20th-century German history with the Weimar Republic, a National Socialist region with the Buchenwald concentration camp, then an East German Land bordering the West and finally, a Land integrated into the FRG and involved in the racist attacks of the NSU 2.0? How is this memory constructed and what are the challenges for memory in the face of the rise of the extreme right in Germany?
As a young or aspiring journalist, are you interested in these questions?
Be part of the trip! To submit your application, send an curriculum vitae and a short short paragraph explaining why you want to join (max. 500 words) (both in English) to info@fr.boell.org with the subject line: NAME_Thuringia
Deadline for application: 1st May 2025