Spring 1945: capitulation and the end of the Second World War - 2025: a jubilee year throughout Europe?

Come with us to the Baltic States and find out with young people from different backgrounds why the end of the German occupation was not a liberation for the people of Latvia. Why it was not a thaw, but a deep winter that befell the inhabitants of this small country.

Our work camp focuses on the actions and consequences of Soviet repression. Through visits to memorials and museums, we will recognize the instruments used: the arbitrary persecution as opposition declared as such by the Soviet regime, the systematic suppression of the Latvian language and culture to break up the Latvian titular nation. In discussions with experts, we will learn how the Latvians asserted themselves and liberated themselves from the Soviet regime via their "Baltic Way" and our Latvian participants will tell us how these events shape Latvian society today. Group workshops will give us space for in-depth study, discussion and reflection. In addition, the maintenance work on the war cemeteries will be carried out on site together with local young people.

Despite the serious topic, fun and adventure are not to be neglected: the dreamy Latvian countryside invites us to explore, and a day at the beach on the Baltic Sea is firmly planned. We will spend the first half of our work camp outside Riga before moving into the heart of the lively capital for the second half. Of course, there will also be plenty of free time to explore on our own or together.

For Whom? Young people from age 16-26 from Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania

When? 24.07.-06.08.2025 (25.07.-05.08.2025 – for participants from Baltic States)

Where? Courland and Riga

Who? Participants aged 17-27 from Germany, Hungary, France, Turkey and other European countries

Language: English

Fee: 25 euros - for participants from Baltic States!

Register by Link until July 1st, 2025

Contact: Ekaterina Fedoruk, 0511 32 73 63, ekaterina.fedoruk@volksbund.de 

Organiser:

Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge e.V and

DBJW | Deutsch-Baltisches Jugendwerk | Zukunftsstiftung

financed by:

Federal Foreign Office