Invitation: Symposium on children of war

Thursday, March 23, 2023, from 2 pm to 8:30 pm // Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung, Friedrichstraße 50, 10117 Berlin

During the German occupation, millions of children from Poland and the countries of the Soviet Union were submitted to forced labor or deported to Germany. The occupiers murdered children with disabilities in special euthanasia facilities. After 1945, the so-called “wolf children” escaped from the former East Prussia to neighboring Lithuania. Their experiences and memories were shaped by forced labor, hunger, and a loss of identity.  

What scopes of action did these children have during and after World War II? How are the “wolf children” remembered in a transnational context? In the course of a scientific symposium on Thursday, March 23, 2023 – organized by the Federal Agency for Civic Education (Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung, bpb) and the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) at the Berlin office of the bpb, Friedrichstraße 50, in 10117 Berlin – international experts will discuss the varied experiences of children in Central and Eastern Europe during and after World War II.

The aim of the symposium is to bring forward exchange on the topic of the “wolf children” and to discuss their history and questions regarding their memories. As former “wolf children” are invited, the focus lies on their perspective – aiming to bring their stories to a wider audience. In addition to the perspective of the “wolf children“, the scope of the event is expanded to the perspective of other children of war. In this way, it will also be possible to promote networking between people who are active in this field – and to further specialist knowledge. 

Journalists can contact Mrs. Jasna Causevic to ask questions about the program or to inquire about accreditation: +49 551 4990616; email: j.causevic@gfbv.de

In the scope of a public evening event on March 23, 2023, starting at 7 pm, the Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung and the Society for Threatened Peoples would like to invite you to a talk with contemporary witnesses. Further information on this podium event can be found here: www.bpb.de/518935