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Online debate || German reunification - reflection on the 30th anniversary - 19 November 2020 [audio recording]

This year, the 30th anniversary of German reunification is an opportunity to reflect on the political and social context of these events and their contemporary significance for Germany, Poland and the whole of Europe.

The Krzyżowa Foundation for Mutual Understanding in Europe together with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Poland organized an online debate, which took place on 19th of November.

The debate was attended by:

• prof. Krzysztof Ruchniewicz (researcher at the University of Wrocław, Director of the Center for German and European Studies Willy Brandt)
• dr Kai-Olaf Lang (expert Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik)

The meeting was moderated by dr Robert Żurek (Managing Director of the Krzyżowa Foundation for Mutual Understanding in Europe).

Read more: Online debate || German reunification - reflection on the 30th anniversary - 19 November 2020...

31st Anniversary of the Reconciliation Mass at Krzyżowa

On 12 November 1989, a holy mass was held in Krzyżowa, attended by Polish Prime Minister Tadeusz Mazowiecki and German Chancellor Helmut Kohl.

The mass, during which representatives of the Polish and German governments stood shoulder to shoulder, was a milestone - especially given the very difficult political relations between the two countries since the end of World War II.

Thanks to symbolic gestures, the meeting at Krzyżowa wrote down in history as the Reconciliation Mass.

Read more: 31st Anniversary of the Reconciliation Mass at Krzyżowa

„A united Europe was not achieved and we had war". Episode 6: Solidarity and freedom

„A united Europe was not achieved and we had war"
Episode 6: Solidarity and freedom (Collapse of Communism)

(...) Today, we do not often appreciate enough what has been achieved since 1989. Minor problems and tensions disturb us in relishing that we were divided by an insuperable wall and it does not exist anymore.

Oppositionists in different countries of eastern Europe helped and inspired each other. Europe liberated itself, because it was faithful to its values. Brave people in the east of the continent opposed evil and took up the fight for freedom and dignity.  (...)

Read more: „A united Europe was not achieved and we had war". Episode 6: Solidarity and freedom

„A united Europe was not achieved and we had war". Episode 5: Against the fatalism of hostility

„A united Europe was not achieved and we had war"
Episode 5: Against the fatalism of hostility (European and German-Polish reconciliation)

(...) Polish-German reconciliation was a very difficult process due to the scale of Nazi crimes against the Poles. Moreover, after the war, Poland was a communist country, separated from the democratic Federal Republic of Germany by the Iron Curtain. In this situation, the citizens, mostly the Catholics and Evangelicals, took matters into their own hands. They managed to change the attitudes of most of their fellow citizens and to convince the political elite to drop the logic of confrontation and to enter the road of reconciliation instead. The proclamation of Polish bishops to the German bishops with the memorable words “we forgive and ask forgiveness” passed into history.  (...)

Read more: „A united Europe was not achieved and we had war". Episode 5: Against the fatalism of hostility