National Socialism is a difficult topic – especially for young people. It often seems far away and difficult to grasp. At the same time, right-wing extremist violence is noticeably increasing in the present. This makes historical examination all the more important. With our trips to memorials, we not only want to impart knowledge to young people, but also create spaces for discussion, critical thinking and personal reflection.

In Weimar and Buchenwald, the participants took an intensive look at the Nazi regime, the role of Weimar, and the concentration camp. In addition to historical foundations, one focus was on the question of how ideologies of inequality worked back then – and how they live on today. The young people researched the biographies of former inmates, held discussions about identity and discrimination, and analyzed how right-wing content is disseminated via TikTok, for example.

The visit to the Buchenwald Memorial was particularly meaningful. On site, the participants not only got an overview of the history of the camp, but also dealt with the importance of remembrance: What does “nie wieder” (never again in English) mean today – in a diverse society, in times of hatred and right-wing agitation?

The program was dense but well-thought-out: from icebreakers and group work to city rallies, timeline work and biographical approaches to creative campaigns against discrimination. The young people developed their own social media posts, formulated personal statements under the hashtag #neveragainisnow and discussed what responsibility each individual bears today.

At the end, they not only had new knowledge, but also a tangible personal engagement with history, the present, and attitude. We would like to thank all participants for their interest and openness – and the Gesamtschule Gießen-Ost for the trusting cooperation.

This event was funded by the IBB gGmbH as the central office of the BMFSFJ.