Forum of the Second and Third Generation
The International Forum of the Second and Third Generation is an annual event for family members of former Ravensbrück inmates. Moderated and multilingual, the forum offers a protected space to address central questions of contemporary approaches to remembrance:
- What role do the descendants of survivors play in preserving history?
- How do the experiences of the survivors shape the lives of their children and grandchildren?
- And how does engagement with this past differ between generations?
The forum aims to reflect on the evolving landscape of remembrance, to support descendants as bearers of historical legacy, and to explore shared approaches to shaping an open and democratic society. It seeks to include the voices of family members in future memorial work, to foster dialogue on historical and current challenges such as antisemitism, racism, and antiziganism, and to identify future areas of action and responsibility in political and social contexts.
A key objective of the forum is the targeted promotion of intergenerational and intercultural understanding.
The forum is simultaneously interpreted into German, English, Polish, and French.
Forum of the Second and Third Generation – May 2025 Review
On 2 May 2025, as part of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Ravensbrück women's concentration camp, this year’s International Forum of the Second and Third Generation took place. Over 160 participants from numerous countries attended the forum at the Ravensbrück Memorial.
The morning was dedicated to a plenary session focusing on fundamental questions regarding the role of descendants of former prisoners in society and in memorial work. In the afternoon, participants engaged in topic-specific working groups on diverse perspectives – including psychosocial experiences, political responsibility, artistic expression, and intergenerational transmission within families. These sessions provided space for in-depth discussions and personal reflection.
The programme for the 80th anniversary of the liberation was funded by the Ministry of Science, Research and Culture of the State of Brandenburg, the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, and the Foundation EVZ.
We sincerely thank AMCHA Germany for the collaborative professional guidance and the trusting cooperation with the memorial’s team.
