histocon

histoCON’s motto is “Look back, think ahead”. This is because looking into the past helps us to understand current developments and enables us to learn for the future. histoCON is a history festival designed to share and discuss global perspectives on history and its relation to the present and future. histoCON is organised by the German Federal Agency for Civic Education and funded by the German Federal Foreign Office.

Together with you and young people from all over the world we are discussing transnational interpretations of history and how these affect the here and now and tomorrow: What lessons were drawn from the Second World War, and why do wars and conflicts persist? What can we learn from history to deal with anti-semitism and racism today? How are historical events remembered in different countries and regions?

histoCON took place for the first time in 2020 – on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe. Due to the pandemic we were unable to meet people from all over the world in Berlin in person. We encountered many different views of history and memory nonetheless: In histoVOICES young people from Japan, Afghanistan, Poland and other countries share their personal stories of the Second World War. In histoPODs we talk to experts to find out how the Holocaust is remembered in their countries. All online formats are available here.

The history festival histoCON will take place live and in person – as soon as the pandemic allows. The 2021/22 histoCON is titled “The World After 1945: New Beginnings?” and is set to discuss three pairs of opposites: “Independence/Dependence”, “Conflict/Cooperation” and “Transformation/Continuity” in the post-war era. We invite you to join our online event on 21 and 22 October 2021 – and hope to meet you in person in Berlin soon.