politikorange 14|14 by politikorange

14|14 May 2014

independent Magazine for HistoryCampus 2014 published by youth press germany

Cover: Maximilian Gens | Credit: Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, Kartenabteilung

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Life Now and Then

Ed i tor i a l Dear Readers,

Europe was torn to pieces one hundred years ago through national pride and warfare. Today, HistoryCampus participants from 44 countries have been putting those pieces together, to commemorate the war, and to shape a cooperative vision of the future. by Jussra Zamani & Alina Leimbach

At this event young people from all over the world have been exploring World War I, a century after it broke out. Why, though, should anyone get in touch with a terrible event that doesn’t seem relevant today? The answer is simple: dealing with the past helps mould the future. We, the editorial staff at politikorange, worked on these pages not only to remind you of World War I and its impact, but also to remind you of the past few days, where you have actively taken part in several workshops. At the HistoryCampus you have learnt about some of the war‘s greatest stories and discovered its biggest effects on our modern society, with other young people who are interested in the past. Those young people come from countries that may be thousands of miles apart and their understanding of politics, peace and democracy may have been shaped very differently. But all are united here by their curiosity, personal stories and thoughts. Through the HistoryCampus everyone can be a part of each other‘s world. We do not wish only to focus on the dark side of the war. We want to learn from that tragic time, broaden our knowledge and inform the future.

eert Mak‘s aunt was six when World War I broke out. “When it began men were cheering and women were happily waving goodbye, looking forward to seeing their husbands again on Christmas Eve,” she wrote. “Only the kids were silent. There was no homecoming. No homecoming for the soldiers and no homecoming for the world as it once was.“ A century has passed since the death of Archduke Franz Ferdinand sparked a global war that claimed 16 million lives. But while participants at this year‘s HistoryCampus have been commemorating the war, ‘Look Back, Think Forward‘ epitomises an event that has drawn people from all over the world to Berlin‘s Maxim Gorki Theater. “We don‘t only want to look back, but actively shape our commemoration,“ said Thomas Krüger, president of the Federal Agency for Civic Education, as he opened the event on May 7th.

Yours, chief editors, Photos: Maximilian Gens

Development through connections

opening debate: dr lothar dittmer, shermin langhoff, almut möller, Geert Mak, prof dr joachim rogall, thomas krüger

44 countries were represented at the HistoryCampus - some of which owe their very existence to World War I. German chancellor Angela Merkel, who spoke at

the event‘s opening, was herself born and raised in East Germany, a nation born of conflict: few could invoke as much personal experience when describing differences between the Europe of 1914 and today. “Already in 1914 economies were heavily interconnected,“ she said. “The difference from today is that people were blindly backing warfare then. “Peace does not exist by itself. It must again and again be building, be fostered and upheld,“ added Merkel. “One of the great chances of the 21st century is to cooperate between nations. We are no longer fighting about politics, but have discovered other, more communicative ways to solve our problems that we should use.“

Alina Leimbach and Jussra Zamani to look into different areas and remember the war,“ she said. “There is more than we have learned.“ That sort of dialogue can be found everywhere at the HistoryCampus. Young people are deconstructing history, using arts and media, laughing and working during daytime and enjoying drinks together at night. It is a chance to look back and live in a moment Europe would do well never to forget - and to think forward as one.

»Speak« Foreign minister in discussion Page 6

»Listen« Can music shape war? Page 8

»Play«

Get to know history Chancellor Merkel’s words have been echoed across the HistoryCampus, as participants from different nations come together to share their knowledge of the war. “I want to know what people from different countries think,“ said Nora, a Finnish attendee. Felicity is a Scottish participant who took part in a workshop before the HistoryCampus, comparing stories from her home town of Dundee with Paris, Freiburg and Gdansk. “I want

c ontent

Past & present in theatre. Page 14

Jussra Zamani 21, Bayreuth Alina Leimbach 23, London ... are looking forward to a social Europe equally strong as economic Europe.

chancellor angela merkel

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Tell me your story

Participants of Europe 14|14 introduce themselves. All three have clear plans for their future, and see themselves in different corners of the world. But the one thing that connects them all is a passion for history and politics. by puneh abdi

Puneh Abdi 20, Hamburg ... is looking forward to a world without borders and nations.

Photos: Jana Nolle

Lotta Schneidemesser 26, Berlin

Victor Liviu 19, Timișoara

Jack Noble 20, Bristol

was actually born in Hamburg, but right now I’m studying English literature here in Berlin. The story of how I got here is quiet long: I participated in the German History Competition, organized by the Körber Foundation 12 years ago. Ever since, I‘ve participated in activities by the foundation as well as at “EUSTORY“, which is the European History Network. I am one of their alumni, which is why I got an invitation to apply. So I did and here I am. When I’m not currently at history workshops or competitions, I’m working on finishing my master’s degree at the Free University of Berlin. In addition, I work as a freelance translator, and as a journalist. I thought I‘d continue working like that, but I just got accepted for a graduate program in England in October. So I will improve my knowledge of post-colonial literature, which is the topic I want to focus on the most. I’m really looking forward to it and - who knows - I might be working at a university at some point.

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friend of mine had seen the Europe14|14 event on the webpage of the Federal Agency of Civic Education, and thought it might be of interest for me. So he told me about it, I applied and got accepted. The flight to Berlin was really good: we had a small drop-off at Munich airport, but still it was a fast and comfortable journey. In my hometown, Timisoara, in Romania, I am studying international relations and political science. I have quite big plans for the future: after I finish studying I would like to join the Romanian foreign ministry. In other words I want to become a diplomat. But of course it’s still a long way: it could take about ten years until I get my doctorate. But I’m working on it!

am 20 years old and a first-year history student at Oxford University, UK. My university sent me an email and informed me about the event – It looked like a really great and interesting thing. I thought it could be a great opportunity for me, because I wanted to engage with other Europeans about their experiences, and hear about their personal perceptions of the Great War. So that was basically what made me want to come and be a part of it. And it really lived up to my expectations. It has been brilliant the past few days! I hope to be finishing university in 2016. I’m not quite sure yet what I’ll be doing afterwards. I could go on with further studies, but first I’m going to do some international development work in Nepal this summer. Perhaps that is another route I may take in the future.

A Hidden Past

To some people history is grey, dusty and long-gone. But people like Roman Roorbroeck are showing that it can be brought to life in an exciting way. politikorange spoke to him about a love for history that came from an unlikely source. by Ann-kathrin Mopils & Johannes Kolb

hen Gérard was 15 years old Belgi- murdered Archduke Franz Ferdinand and grounds but also for the differences.“ In um was invaded by Germany. Soon sparked WWI. Already engaged in history, his opinion, the HistoryCampus offers the after, he was imprisoned and forced to Roman developed a deeper interest in the best way to initiate, uphold and restart work in neighbouring France. It wasn‘t un- topic by reading his great-grandfather‘s historical conversations: “You never leave til the age of 17, with World War I (WWI) diaries. Based on the memoirs, he wrote an event without carrying home more perin full, terrible swing, that he managed to an essay about daily life during the war. spectives in your pocket. It is not only reescape. When he finally returned to his His essay won the EUSTORY Prize, which warding in regard to historical knowledge, village, the war was over. 65 years later, awards the best historical account by a but also for one’s personal development.“ ‘Look back, think forward’, the sloaged 82, Gérard had written his life story, student or young European. cramming an entire existence into just 400 The prize gave Roman a last drop gan of this year‘s event in Berlin, has dual meaning to Roman. He is an interested pages. A quarter of them are dedicated to of motivation to study history. To some his experiences during WWI. But his me- people the subject may be grey, dusty and citizen, but also a prospective historian. moirs remained unread until long after his long-gone. For Roman, it is not a matter of “On one hand analysis of past and present death, when they were discovered in the the past. For the last two years he has tried needs to be separated for academia,“ he attic by his great-grandson Roman Roor- not to miss a history event for young aca- says. Yet it is the link of past and present that makes the HistoryCampus special to broeck. Roman had never known Gérard. demics on the continent. In addition, he is him: “Combining past and present cre“I began immediately to realise that all of working at the Centre for Democracy and ates a vivid atmosphere. it really happened - the manuscript just History back home in Belgium. “History lies years behind us, but made history become alive,“ he says. “I as a result of rethinking and discussing, no longer pictured everything in black and Bringing history to life it will never be forgotten,“ adds Roman. white.“ It was a very special discovery with “Everyone has his own tale and perspec- “Bringing history to life is everybody‘s unforeseen consequences for Roman, 20, tive about World War I,“ says Roman. “By duty for the sake of remembrance.“ For a student of history and Russian culture. It gaining a variety of stories, one is forced him, thanks to Gérard’s tales, researching was almost a century after Gavrilo Princip to reflect on them: to look for common history never ends.

Roman Roorbroeck takes part in the workshop once upon a time... there was great war

Ann-Kathrin Mopils 21, Stuttgart ... is looking forward to see more people being concerned about sustainability.

Johannes Kolb 18, Saarbrücken ...is looking forward to studying in France and understanding the “Erbfeind“.

Photos: Maximilian Gens

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Steinmeier, Sting & Ukraine The German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier was one of the big Names at the HistoryCampus. His speech was followed by a discussion with three participants. by sally eshun

“H

istory will teach us nothing,” said Frank-Walter Steinmeier, quoting British rock star Sting. But the German foreign minister would go on to contradict those words, claiming that one should leave the past behind while taking responsibility for it. He stresses that a catastrophe like World War I must never happen again, referring to the critical situation in Ukraine and how peace is not ubiquitous - even in Europe. Understanding is, according to Steinmeier, “essential for successful foreign policy”. By understanding different points of view, it is possible to communicate even with countries that “do not agree with everything you say”. And public discourse is important for policy too, he added, while criticising the role of the media in comprehending the complex situation with Russia and Ukraine. Steinmeier regrets the use of terms like “Putin-Versteher” (someone who symphathises with Putin). Those terms are supposedly hindering the work of foreign administrations. “It creates tension among the people who are involved in the diplomatic process,” he said.

The challenges of foreign policy

entire summer. During the discussion she told Steinmeier of her situation. The minister alluded to huge strides he claims have been made in former Yugoslav nations such as Serbia, Kosovo and Montenegro. Roman Roorbroeck is a Belgian student of history and Russian, who spoke to Mr Steinmeier and the audience about his work at HistoryCampus, and the amazing story of his great-grandfather, whose diaries Roman discovered in the family attic aged just 17. Now 20 the scholar spoke about the life of his forebear, Gérard, who was just 15 when World War I broke out. Roman described how Gérard fought in the war as a teenager, and told the audience that he couldn’t imagine how it must feel witnessing such a global tragedy at such a young age. The event’s third speaker, Jan, a student of political science in Dundee, Scotland, described how he had created a survey about WWI. Each speaker brought the topic of the war to life through their hugely different experiences. All three were fascinating and engaged in the debate with Mr Steinmeier. It was regretful, however, that no real discussion took place. For there were many more questions left unanswered.

“Foreign policy is a question of perception”, said American politician Henry Kissinger. Steinmeier referred to him, adding that it is difficult to come to an agreement with 200 member states of the UN. “It works, though, if every member takes comprehending seriously,” he adds. For successful policy, communication and debates are essential. At this point we can learn a lot of the past. Previous conflicts between states show that missing discussion, or even an imbalanced debate, can name violent results.

Get in contact After Mr Steinmeier’s missive there was a discussion with three participants of the HistoryCampus. They did not even have the chance to sit on stage with the German foreign minister, but rather to ask him their most valued questions. Serbian inquisitor Ivana had experienced the Yugoslavian war, including the NATO bombings of 1999, during which she lived in a basement for an

Sally Eshun 17 Jahre, Hamburg ... is looking foward to an European future instead of European hostility.

german foreign minister frank-walter steinmeier

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Photo: Maximilian Gens

One Hundred Years and Still Relevant

World War I affected modern society more than you might think, from borders to medicine. And its impacts are still being felt today. by katie Williams

How can a war that happened a century ago still have an impact on our lives today, and continue to do so in the future? We always hear about a ‚lost generation‘, and destroyed landscapes across Europe. But what of the more lasting effects of the 20th century‘s first global conflict? At “Everyday Life and War” participants have been examining impacts of the war on several aspects of life, including culture; family life; the life of a soldier; and women. Diaries of those alive at that time have been explored and the number of connections between then and now have been startling.

Austro-Hungarian Empire. “We were still under the Czechs but it was the first step to our country gaining its full independence,“ she says. “Not all people are happy with the situation now but they all still want a separate Slovakia, though perhaps with closer ties to Czech Republic.“

Shifting Borders and WWI

Greece, however, was plunged into further conflict following WWI. The archipelago country gained territory after the war, but within a year was fighting its neighbour Turkey in a bloody conflict that lasted until 1922. “This was a very Gaining Independence difficult time in our history as we lost terCompare a map of Europe today with ritory and there were a lot of refugees,“ one from 1914, and you‘ll immediately says Foteini Pateinari, 24, from Greece. be able to see the effects of World War I “It was a national catastrophe.“ (WWI) on our modern borders. Poland, The Ottoman Empire, which lost for example, regained its independence the war, was heavily partitioned, and its after the conflict. Other countries, such borders pared almost to those of modern as Ukraine and Slovakia, became sove- Turkey. “Turkey lost territory...but also reign states for the first time. Jasmin gained independence in 1923,“ says Eda Slovačkova, a 22-year-old Slovak, de- Yilar, a 19-year-old German of Turkish scribes the impact WW1 had on her descent. “Germany also saw a change home nation, which became a part of of fortunes as they were rich and had a Czechoslovakia after the breakup of the lot of military strength before WWI. In

fact (German Emperor) Wilhelm II had the second-biggest ship in Europe, after Britain. After WWI there was a great deal of poverty and people had no food. Maybe the close links between the two countries led to the Gastarbeiter (the mass immigration of foreign workers) in Germany later on, most of whom came from Turkey.“

Pushing medicine forward So many aspects of the war have been overlooked in the hundred years since it began. One such is the development of prosthetics, or artificial limbs, the research of which soared due to the unprecedented violence of the planet’s first mechanised conflict. Prosthetics had been around since the earliest days of ancient Egypt. But the war‘s huge number of victims required limbs that could be built more quickly, and more effective. The medical profession also developed elsewhere. The horror of WWI had a terrible effect on the bodies of those who fought in it, but it also destroyed their minds. Shell shock, an intense reaction to the trauma of aerial bombardment, could cause all sorts of things, from terri-

ble nightmares to blindness. By the war‘s conclusion in 1918 over 80,000 soldiers had been treated for the condition in Britain alone. Specialist hospitals were erected, and the resulting developments in mental healthcare paved the way for giant leaps in the psychiatric field. Today the benefits of those advances can be felt worldwide. Dissecting the impact of World War I is a complex process. Only once you get past the effects it had on its own generation, can you begin to unravel the myriad influences felt in today‘s society - from shifting borders to medicine, and much more besides.

Katie Williams 21, Northampton ... is looking forward to see everyone having a greater mutual understanding.

FruchtflEisch What do you hope to gain from the HistoryCampus? “Experience”

“Memories“

Photos: Jana Nolle

“New perspective”

Arevik Hayrapetyan, 20 Armenia I wish to improve my understanding of WW I with other participants, and gain a new perspective.

Stefana Macovei, 18, Romania

Lucas Kröger, 21 Germany

I want to do something xtraordinary. I hope to gain a lot e of experience from the workshop.

I hope to gain many new contacts and nice memories.

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death waltz

Artillery noise, hand grenades whistling and the horrifying silence of poison gas. War does not only have many faces, but also a lot of sounds. by katharina grewe Photo: Maximilian Gens

CONCEPT Performance Waltzing 1914 at maxim gorki theatre

Photo: Maximilian Gens

utting the music of a century into one The darkest moments of in its institutions…smoulders in the bre- man writer Hans Siemsen put it in 1921: show, curator Björn Döring tried to ast of all mankind,” said historian W.L. “Had the Kaiser been dancing jazz – none humanity do the impossible alongside several artists Hubbard. “This latent spark when fan- of this would have happened.” from across Europe. The result is a sound It is often said that music is the key to the ned into a blaze of fervor finds vent in that mixes contemporary music with soul. Today, Eggert and his colleagues … song, which in turn inspires to action. elements from various decades between are using it to take their audience on a Such is the birth of patriotic music.” War 1914 and 2014. As a whole, the project journey to the darkest moments of hu- surely changes music, but can music inis an attempt to put the horrors of four manity, overcoming all language barriers fluence war? “I wish it could”, Döring years of attrition and fighting into music. with their composition. Exploring histo- says, “but I doubt it can.” Alongside a ry through music, or art, gives people the In doing so, it uses a repertoire ranging long history of anti-war protest songs, from the mechanical sounds of the first chance to create an immediate connec- there is an equally long tradition of poligramophones in the early 20th century, tion with history, and to understand it on ticians ignoring it. to Motörhead and modern electro. The- an emotional level. But even if music may not end wars, Döring and his team do not want to re even are unexpected links between it can mark their faces: In the December contemporary and more classical music: teach their audience just one version of of 1914, for example, German and Bri“Arnold Schönberg‘s compositions of the events. Rather, their performance raises tish soldiers met on Christmas Eve and 1920s, for instance, inspired minimal questions and lets listeners interpret hi- sang Christmas carols together. A little techno and its repetitive patterns,” ex- story on their own. Whether art can ever later, the first Afro-American brigade of fully grasp the horrors of war is questi- the US army introduced some lighter plains Döring. The concept performance “Waltzing onable, but it can certainly help us un- tunes to Europe with songs like “When 1914” is one part of this project. Combi- derstand the spirit of a certain moment the Kaiser does the Goose-Step to Good in time. ning singing, a DJ/lighting performance Old American Rag”. Rag and jazz songs and acting, it covers four years of war. The like this did not only motivate soldiers to performance’s pianist, 48-year-old Moritz walk faster, but also served as a source War changed music - can Eggert, explains the title: “In a way, that music change war? of entertainment. They also contributed Katharina Grewe 21 Jahre, Passau particular war was a death waltz, with to the popularisation of jazz music in Euthe troops slowly circulating each other.” Music can be used during war as part of rope during the 1920s. ...hopes to see (summer) The tunes reflect an initial excitement at a propaganda machine, and to promoThe belief that music can change light at the end of the the outbreak of war, but also take the li- te any political goal: marching tunes to the outcome of wars may be naïve, but tunnel. motivate troops; ballads to mourn los- it certainly influences a country‘s culture, stener on a journey through the following ses; heroic songs glorifying past battles. which can, in turn, shape its attitude toyears of terror, when machine-gun fire “Love of country, together with a pride wards war and violence. Or, as the Gersoundtracked patriotic folk songs.

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All roads lead to Berlin

With 381 participants from 44 countries all over the world, there is quite a multicultural atmosphere on the HistoryCampus. by christina lerch

ednesday evening in front of the Gorki Theatre, at the heart of Berlin: A mixture of different languages fills the forecourt. Young people aged between 18 and 25 years old, from all corners of the globe, have arrived in the German capital to participate in HistoryCampus. The Federal Agency of Civic Education invited them, in cooperation with the Körber Foundation and the Robert Bosch Foundation, to find an answer to the question: “The First World War – What does it mean to me?” In 22 workshops that range from analysing and digitalising, to enacting and commemorating history, participants discuss, research, shoot films and act, on the

topic of World War I. Although the official motto of the Campus is “Look back, think forward”, the focus often falls on the past. Most of these young people have no personal relationship to the war, so it can be challenging for them to grasp the impact it still has today. A wide range of additional activities aim to bridge this gap. Guided tours through Berlin show that history is still visible - even if we do not notice it at first. A more artistic perspective is provided by the Israeli violist Avri Levitan, whose shows explain, via first-hand examples, how classical music was abused for propaganda purposes during the war.

Despite the participants’ enthusiasm, the Palais quiets down when they disappear into their workshops. If you take a look in the rooms, you will find people sitting in front of PCs, creating sculptures or acting in role-plays. “I really appreciate that everyone is so involved and tries to make the most of this great opportunity,” says Ida Ydo, 21, from Denmark. German student Lena Pöschel is especially impressed by the atmosphere among the participants. “Everyone comes to Berlin with completely different backgrounds, but people are always friendly and respectful in dealing with

each other,” she says. Hopefully this inspiring atmosphere can be remembered when everyone returns home on Sunday.

Christina Lerch 19, Ulm ... is looking foward to an interconnected European Union with dissolving borders and differences.

Peace in Europe – renegotiated

The participants of the workshop “peace renegotiated” faced a big challenge: Revive the peace negotiations of 1919. It is hard to be on the same page especially when no one is ready to compromise. by Sally eshun

oud voices dominated the atmo- “The decisions about the disarmament sphere of “Peace Renegotiated”. and the responsibility for civil damages Everyone was convinced of their ideas were quite easy,” added ‚Pinchon‘. and opinions, and wanted to persuade A consensus on the distribution of the others to agree. But it was not that reparation costs among the allies and easy. Just like it wasn‘t easy 95 years territorial questions, on the other hand, ago. Countries like France, the United were tougher. „France and Italy were esKingdom, Italy and the USA contempla- pecially hard to negotiate with,“ added ted Germany‘s future in Versailles, and it the participant who was playing Arthur Balfour, the foreign minister of Great Briwasn‘t looking too good for a Teutonic future. In 1919 Germany lost 70,000 km² tain. For three days the group had authority to decide the destiny of Germany, of land to its neighbours. In addition, the Allies held Germany fully responsible for with one added gift: hindsight. They are aware of the past and therefore have a the outbreak of World War I. different view on the matter.

Time travel to 1919

1914 and 2014 – similarities

The aim of the simulation was to take are visible historical responsibility by putting 30 participants in the shoes of others. Each “It is hard to listen to one another becauacted as a delegate and represented diffe- se everyone has to say something”, adrent countries - but never his or her own. mitted one 22-year-old participant. But Alongside the Treaty of Versailles, they in the end there was a result. The Geralso played out the negotiations of Saint- man military was allowed only to keep 150,000 soldiers. Heavy arms and chemiGermain and Trianon. “Everyone has a different opini- cal weapons were forbidden. Territories on about a certain topic. So it‘s hard to like Alsace-Lorraine, Saarland and the come to a compromise,” admitted one Rheinland went to France. The groups participant, who played Stéphen Pichon, also decided that Silesia, Poznań, West the foreign minister of France between Prussia and Danzig (Gdańsk) should be1917 and 1920. The ‚delegates‘ argued long to Poland. Only the region of East about everything from reparation costs Prussia, which today comprises much of to the decimation of the German military. the Baltic region, was ceded to Germany.

participants negotiating at a peace treaty

In fact, the HistoryCampus negotiations came to similar results as those of 1919. As an Italian representative told politikorange, it was the “best possible compromise”. The young people between 19 and 26 brought creativity, fantasy and diplomatic competence with them. It ensured an exciting discussion.

Photo: Jana Nolle

Sally Eshun 17 Jahre, Hamburg ... is looking foward to an European future instead of an European hostility.

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Different angles of Europe How do you imagine a positive vision of Europe relating to your country? Authors Alina Leimbach & Katie williams asked several people on the HistoryCampus from several countries. On the map you see each country that is represented by the 381 participants. photos by jana nolle australia 1 canada egypt 6 israel uzbekistan 1

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I hope that supra-national cooperation both between nations and the EU and other countries will be intensified. I hope for harmony between cultural identities of every area but I also hope that it does not become a single united states of europe.

Quynh-Anh Nguyen-Xuan 21, Germany

Bran Algoed 24, Belgium

I hope countries will share more to try to change the inequality I also hope that the negative opinions about immigration in France will be reduced.

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Louisa Chas 17, France

I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;t believe in borders or countries, I believe in culture. Everyone should work together without needing the EU to make that happen.

Ana CatalĂĄ 31, Spain

It would be nice if devel countries would help de ping countries more. Tha is at least a minimum sta of living everywhere in E

Inas Gacanin 17, Bosnia and Herzego

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I wish Europe to become a place where every culture is considered equally important and each countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history is recognised.

Rasa Gostautaite 20, Lithuania

It would be nice to unite whilst keeping traditions and national uniqueness upright.

I would like to see the European Union being more accepted in Hungary. People should communicate and negotiate with each other instead of taking things personally. Ester VĂĄmos 23, Hungary

Zofia Sokolowicz 20, Poland

Peace. And less pressure from Russia.

Vadyn Tiroshko 20, Ukraine

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loped eveloat there andard Europe.

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More integration, more understanding between people and more collaboration. Joron Postoloski Elena Glaboska 24, 23, Macedonia

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Peace, and understanding and more social justice. And young people that fight for it. Feteini Pateinari 24, Greece

ovina

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You cannot win, only cope

Videogames dealing with wars are often recognized as violent and inaccurate. At the HistoryCampus, some participants show that you can connect games and war in a different way. by antonio basilicata

bead of sweat appears on the young soldier’s forehead. His weapon is ready in his hands. Drenched with rain, he stands behind the crumbling wall of a house. On the other side, the enemy is waiting with his own weapon and the will to take the life of his opponent. The young soldier knows what awaits him. Scenarios such as this come to mind when people think about videogames that deal with wars, especially with World War I. But does it really have to be such a bloody, cruel and deadly scene? “The heroes in many World War I games are presented as a collection of madmen. This is because most producers only have one intention: to sell their games”, explains Christian Huberts, 31, who is organising the workshop “Gaming the Great War” at the HistoryCampus. In this workshop, fourteen participants try to develop alternatives to existing games. “Until now, the producers have seldomly thought about being historically accurate. Our workshop is not only about understanding individual historical facts, but also about having fun with history and representing it in new ways,” odds Mr. Huberts.

Different Games same enthusiasm At the back of the room, two desks with laptops are put together and a group is working on their project: They are creating a map showing the trenches of World War I. In these trenches, the player assumes the role of a soldier and needs to survive and stay sane. This task is impeded by quests, which can influence the player’s level both negatively and positively: Getting caught in an explosion, for example, will make your sanity go down and sending postcards back home can push it back up. “You have to keep your level of sanity”, says Clemens Weinbrenner, 23, who is one of the creators of this game. “The atmosphere also plays an important role: There is less light, fewer sound effects and a wobbly screen. You cannot win, only cope with this game. That is our message concerning wars.” All in all, three groups are working on different games with various backgrounds – a completely different example from Clemens’ approach is a new version of the well-known game “Angry Birds” that includes World War I weapons.

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Clemens Weinbrenner while he is testing his own game

With the help of a software called “Unity Tool”, the participants are able to create detailed and realistic characters and landscapes, from overgrown woods to a mountainous and rocky terrain. Once you enter the workshop room, you can feel the intensity and enthusiasm and get a real sense of the teamwork involved. “Yes, that is exactly what a sky should look like!”, somebody shouts in excitement. His group built a character and made him walk through green grasslands and golden fields, but until now, the colour of the sky had not been convincing enough.

New Way of rememberance Trial and experimentation are the basis of this workshop: You can explore different possibilities and piece for piece, tree for tree, finally create a detailed work of art. But the historical circumstances and facts are not forgotten. In Clemens Weinbrenner’s opinion, the software simply gives participants the

chance to deal with World War I in a new way, despite the limited time they have in Berlin. The workshop gives participants an active role and conveys the emotions and impressions of people fighting and living during World War I – it is simultaneously telling a story and explaining history. “With our game, we want to change the prejudice that videogames about wars always glorify violence. Games can help to understand other people´s mentality and their actions – and inspire people to reflect on their perspectives on World War I,” Christian Huberts explains. “The workshop is a chance to create a new way of remembrance with which you can engage directly.” On one side of the room, right next to the windows, stands a large flip chart with a mind map on it. Looking at the keywords, ideas and inspirations jotted down on the white paper, you can see the meticulous preparation and feel the passion of the participants that went into the games. War may not be

Photo: Maximilian Gens

a game, but the workshop “Gaming the Great War” shows that it is possible to use games as a means to explain and understand it.

Antonio Basilicata 18, Bremen ... is looking foward to a more open and united Europe with an exciting future.

War of the Words

Language is a powerful tool but why could words be part of the route to disaster and war? One History Campus workshop has been looking into the way words can be misunderstood or interpreted differently. by Katie Williams

ords are powerful: they have the cipants have explored more intangible ability to hurt or to heal, to inspi- concepts such as ‚nation‘, ‚Europe‘ and re love or hate and to create alliances ‚patriotism‘, and have been discussing or lead to the outbreak of war. Looking the various interpretations of these into the period leading up to and during words and the consequences this could World War 1 it is interesting to explore have had in 1914 as the world stood on the role language played in the terrible the brink of catastrophe. events which took place. You might expect that this would unearth some sim- Honour – personal or ple mistranslations which increased ten- national? sions between the powers. The reality is Take, for example, ‚honour‘. It can be far more intriguing. taken on a personal level or a national one, something which is often heavily One word, one meaning? linked with a person’s culture. When The participants of the workshop ‘Ex- coming up with synonyms for ‚honour‘, ploring the Power of Concepts in War suggestions range from ‘integrity’ and and Peace – 1914/2014’ have been loo- ‘honesty’ to ‚dignity‘ and ‚glory‘. And king closely at the subject of language. while those might seem pretty similar, The words they are dealing with are all the phrases ‚to be honoured‘ and ‚to be in English - and yet surprisingly, during honourable‘ mean two very different the workshop, many different interpre- things. The first is linked with the opitations arose from the simplest of terms. nion of others and is more likely to be At the most basic level it isn’t lan- used on a national scale, the other with guage itself which influences the actions ethics and is a more personal concept. and reactions of people, but their per- These different interpretations can lead ception of what the word means. Parti- to very different reactions. And they

show how emotionally and ideologically-charged phrases can be misunderstood, or abused.

Different interpretations Participants were quickly engrossed in the semantically-labyrinthine subject. Kerasia Sklavounou, 24, from Greece, spoke about the word ‚Europe‘: “Although it is not a word which can be mistranslated, as can happen with other words, there is still margin for different interpretations.“ Does “Europe” refer to a political space? A geographical area? Or something else entirely? Depending on where you are from, your opinion on this matter will be different. Sulkhan Chargeishvili, a 20-yearold Georgian, pointed out that, “differences in perception and misunderstandings could lead to conflict as people interpret the same word in either a positive or negative way.“ Maybe if those in power in 1914 had clarified the meaning of their words, things might have turned out differently, we’ll never know. What

we can say with some certainty is that abstract concepts are complicated. When talking about these more intangible ideas we are using the same words. But are we really on the same page?

Katie Williams 21, Northampton ... is looking forward to see everyone having a greater mutual understanding.

FruchtflEisch What has been your best experience? “meeting“

Hannah Hilligardt 19, UK Meeting so many young people from different countries who are eager to think and talk about world war I.

“atmosphere“

“variety“

Shermin Langhoff 44, Germany

Hana Duvacic and Sara Sepic 17, Bosnia and Herzegovina

The vivid atmosphere when 400 people from 40 countries entered the theatre.

The huge variety of points of views concerning world war I in the workshop “WWI?- i like?!“.

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a bout Aleksandar Radenković, born in 1979 in Novi Sad, Serbia, is a German actor. He has been a member of the Maxim Gorki Theater ensemble since 2013, following work in Leipzig, Hamburg and Düsseldorf. After a decade of acting, this season’s shows at the Gorki are the first to force Radenković to confront his Balkan origins.

Photo: Ute Langkaferl

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»Are we really safe today?« aleksandar radenkoviĆ

Serbia-born German actor Aleksandar Radenković spoke to politikorange about Serbia, World War I and the role of arts. by Jana kugoth & katharina grewe

According to a 2013 survey 65% of Serbs see Gavrilo Princip, the Sarejevo assassin whose actions lit the touch-paper of war, as a hero. Only 7% consider him a terrorist. What‘s your take on that? Actually, I didn‘t know much about World War I before I took part in the play “The Night of Gavrilo Princip”. I only knew that there was a guy who shot another guy, and then World War I started. For the play I read a lot of books about the war. My preparation for the performance took me deeper into the historical context of Princip’s life and the life of his friends. They were born in poor villages, and in a country that was suppressed over hundreds of years. I don‘t think we should make the mistake of looking at the assassin from our present perspective. Regarding the historical context I can understand Princip’s idealistic approach and his hope to earn freedom for his country. I do not want to defend Gavrilo‘s crime. But considering the time he lived in, I try to have a neutral view of him.

You point out that the play‘s program simply calls you an actor and disregards your nationality. To what extent did your birthplace, Novi Sad (Serbia‘s second-largest city), influence your performance? I have been an actor for ten years now. For the first nine-and-a-half, my nationality did not play any role. For me, it was always a private issue. But half a year ago I became a member of the Gorki ensemble. My first project here was “Common Ground”, which dealt with Balkan history. Now I am doing “The Night of Gavrilo Princip”. Those plays forced me to deal with my own identity: I had to work with it onstage. For me that is a difficult task. I am convinced that an actor onstage should not give a political statement. But suddenly you feel that you have got some responsibility and that every word you say affects the audience. Your performance automatically becomes a political statement. And often people ask me for my feelings about it – just like you (laughs). It is very interesting but also confusing being pushed into such a role, and to be forced to establish a position on this topic.

We‘ll push you further then: Christopher Clark‘s latest book about World War I, “The Sleepwalkers”, has stirred a lot of controversy in

Serbia. What‘s your opinion on the discussion about Serbian victims and heroes? I read the book during my holidays on the beach in Thailand as a preparation for my next performance at the Gorki. I read the first chapter, which deals with Serbia. Clark describes the state as a violent nation with imperial ambitions. Of course, reading this made me very angry. I think what Clark wrote about Serbia was true of all countries in Europe in the 1910s: The Germans had their Schlieffen Plan (a plan for victory on two fronts), the Russians had plans to swallow the Balkan states, and so on. What I have learned from my studies about the war is that everyone knows his or her patch of history. It is impossible to tell The Whole Story. You always choose some pieces of the narrative and make up your own version of history.

How would you describe yourself in three words? Emotional, self-controlled, angry.

You mentioned neither nationality nor religion. Is the concept of national identity still up to date? For me, yes. Definitely. Of course you can say that we are all connected and it‘s great that we live in a united Europe. But what I feel is the loss of a certain tradition. I like belonging to a group of people. When it comes to sayings like “being part of a nation” or even “being proud to be part of a nation”, there‘s always a negative connotation. It‘s always connected to some blind and small-minded idea. But for me, being part of a nation means belonging. We are all Europeans, all humans. But it‘s nice to know the cultural differences and to learn from that.

Art is not often only about entertaining but also an education. What is theatre‘s role in looking back as well as thinking forward? I don‘t think theatre should teach. When I think about teaching, I think about school. Theatre should ask questions, disturb, provoke emotions and be funny. Maybe it‘s a utopia, the original idea of theatre. I would like to believe in, and to fight for, a society in which we still need theatre. But I‘m not sure if we do, with all the media.

We‘ve asked participants what school failed to teach them about the war. What didn‘t you learn? I think I had a good history teacher, but nonetheless I lost my interest in it. I remember that we talked about the great powers but not so much about the Ottomans or the Balkan region. That‘s all I remember.

It is said that history is life‘s teacher. What have 100 years taught us, and what insights can we take into the future? Last night I watched a documentary about the Second World War. There was footage of thousands cheering for Hitler. Like the beginning of WWI, it‘s the enthusiasm that makes me wonder. When talking about history and wars, I am always asking myself: are we really so safe today? We live in a democratic country, but we only have to look at Ukraine to see that nothing is safe; no border is safe. Everything can change in a day. So if there‘s something we ought to learn it‘s never to forget these things are still possible. Never to take peace for granted.

To what degree does the German theatre scene portray the diversity of Germany? I try to put it like this: If you watch the majority of the audience in all the theatres, it‘s pretty much the same as the people standing onstage. So I think it should be our goal to get more multicultural in the theatre and make it more important. If the people onstage will change, their story will automatically change. If you talk about yourself and your experiences, suddenly new people come to the theatre.

Jana Kugoth 25, Berlin Katharina Grewe 21, Passau see themselves being the first human beings on Mars.

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different ways to appraoch world war i

Photo: Maximilian Gens

World War One in the Media

In the past decades the Great War, overshadowed by the Third Reich, was rarely covered by German media. A hundred years later, the debate about World War I has risen again in books and on screens small and large. by sophie hubbe & Ann-Kathrin Mopils

here have been many German releases about the Great War in the last few years. In the following you will discover some examples of academic books and popular films that handle with World War I (WWI). The main question on WWI discussed in historiographical circles deals with the reasons for war, and who was responsible for its eruption. There is a general sense that not one nation is solely culpable. But despite that, Germany gets accused the most. Gerhard Hirschfeld, professor of modern and contemporary history at the University of Stuttgart, believes that, for the Prussian-German conservative elite, only a European war could help realise their colonial plans and designs on global political prestige. It was that interaction of politics and prestige that directly led to the breakdown of peace on the continent. Though most historians these days refute such evidence, Hirschfeld throws his weight behind Teutonic, blame in the context of regional politics at the time. Cambridge historian Christopher Clark‘s “The Sleepwalkers” opened another intriguing debate: how Europe went to war in 1914. In the book Clark

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recants the outbreak of WWI by introducing new sources that emphasise the responsibility of Serbia and the Balkans. He stresses the aggressive ideology of the young Serbian kingdom, which clamoured for an expansion of its state into a ‚Greater Serbia‘. Clark also underscores a multi-polar, fragile world of contradictory ideals that were created in the reign of various leaders. Clark points out how European rulers behaved like sleepwalkers: stumbling through crises believing a European war was the only solution. These theories, unsurprisingly, shook Serbia, where many hold Clark responsible for a revival of their country’s war guilt.

Documentaries and Feature Films In the 2008 film “The Red Baron”, Matthias Schweighöfer plays the role of young Manfred von Richthofen, a talented and celebrated pilot of the Imperial German Air Service (the ‚Luftstreitkräfte‘). Paying no attention to the deadly risks of war, air combat for Manfred is simply a sport: a way of gaining respect. He is named the Red Baron thanks to his bright red flying machine.

It is only after Manfred falls in love with Kate, a military nurse, that he realises war‘s dreadful perils. Following a serious accident he begins to hate the war, and struggles with his obligations to the Luftstreitkräfte. Nevertheless, he sallies out to fly again - with terrible results. World War I was the first war in which aerial combat took centre stage. The movie itself, directed by Nikolai Müllerschön, was shot in English and German - with the same cast appearing in both versions. Despite several historical inaccuracies, and no shortage of controversial opinions about the film, it illuminates the war from a completely new perspective and it is well worth a watch. The BBC series “Downton Abbey” begins with the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912, and covers a glut of important historical events leading up to World War I - including a change in the British social hierarchy. The aristocratic Crawley family and their servants, who live in the show‘s eponymous Yorkshire country estate, take top billing. By the first season‘s finale the Great War has broken out, and the second season comprises central events of war such as 1916‘s brutal Battle of the Somme. Several different perspectives of the war are shown. Some

family members and servants are recruited and wounded; their Irish chauffeur refuses to fight for the British; and the family´s youngest daughter flouts her aristocracy by joining the Voluntary Aid Detachment, which provided medical care on the battlefield. Watching the show, it‘s easy to see how power in Britain was reorganised by the war.

Sophie Hubbe 23, Magdeburg Ann-Kathrin Mopils 21, Stuttgart ... are looking forward to see more people being concerned about sustainability.

Once upon a time... There was a great war

this workshop did some research on the consequences of the fighting for the home front in Freiburg, Dundee, Paris and gdaŃsk. It also included a survey on how much people still know about the war. The workshop participants found some surprising facts you probably did not know before. by johannes kolb

865%

788 320

The increase of the price of bread in Warsaw during the war. I n the cold winter of 1916 the people of Freiburg were starving. As a result they slaughtered this number of poor cats and dogs as they were seen as competitors for food. Some of them might even have found their way into the cooking pots of hungry citizens.

T here were only three parishes in Scotland which did not lose at least one person to the war: Abernyte, Lethendy and Kinloch.

97% 88% 81%

76%

78%

65%

“I know how my country of residence was affected by the war.“

germany

france

poland

germany

france

poland

58%

“I would like to know more about WWI.“

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»Foundation for a pan-European Memory« Thomas Krüger, president of the Federal Agency for Civic Education, shared his personal views on the History Campus 2014 with politikorange. by Jana Kugoth How did you personally prepare for the HistoryCampus? I have done some research into my own family history: families often do not talk about war because of the traumatic experiences, but I’ve found out my own grandfather - my mother’s father - was a soldier in World War I. He took a bullet to the lung, which could not be removed with an operation those days. But that did not prevent him from smoking, and with every drag one could hear a little whistle coming out of his lung!

What were your hopes for the HistoryCampus? Have they been fulfilled? I deeply hope the national narratives of WWI are questioned by today‘s curious generation. I’d like to lay the foundation for a pan-European memory - an aim that can only be reached if we share common experiences, discuss and have fun together. During these processes, one can incorporate others‘ perspectives into their own. On the HistoryCampus it didn‘t take long to start this process. The borders of national memories have been crossed.

What is the most memorable encounter you‘ve had? I had a discussion with two people from the Ukraine. They were very happy about being invited to the HistoryCampus and being recognised as a part of this debate, while there is terrible violence in their country. Participants here are lively about bringing current history to the workshop.

Concerning Ukraine, Chancellor Angela Merkel said at the opening ceremony that “We should not use force; rather the force of the law.“ What do you make of that statement? I think this is a very precise and truthful sentence. Europe’s history has its origin in the promise ‘never again war‘. It is a promise of which we must be reminded constantly - especially considering the situation in Ukraine. After World War II, Europeans set up laws to prevent war. But even today it is seen as an option in dealing with conflict. That original promise must be preserved.

Jana Kugoth 25, Berlin is as an optimistic person, looking forward to a new generation emerging – people considering themselves Europeans.

Photo: Jana Sophia Nolle

Our author jana kugoth is talking to Thomas krüger

So cial media edit o rs

Florian Burkhardt @floburkhardt 7 may

Janine Noack @janinenoack 7 may

Felix R. Gießmann @felixg3 8 may

At the opening of #historycampus at the Maxim Gorki theatre in #Berlin. Great to be a.part of it. #e1414

Geert Mak: “whoever kills, kills himself. Whoever rules, rules himself.“ #e1414 @HistoryCampus

I probably get a stack overflow about history knowledge in the next days. It‘s going to be productive and funny! #e1414

Charlotte Jahnz @CJahnz 9 may

Martin Bayer @Wartist_org 9 may

Lucy Moore @CuratorLucy 9 may

So there‘s a lot of memorial culture of #WWI in the UK, but is there any in Germany? #e1414

Head of @bundeszentrale Krüger quotes Harry Patch, the last British surviving soldier who died in 2009: “War is organised murder.“ #e1414

Staying late at work - keeping an eye on #E1414 for #ww1me opinions!