We are placing the experiences of new beginnings and upheaval of people in central and eastern Europe at the heart of our bid. To this end, two scientists, an East German and a West German – Christian Faludi from the Gesellschaft zur Erforschung der Demokratiegeschichte e. V. (Society for Researching the History of Democracy) and Tobias Schwessinger from the Friedrich-Schiller University – have set off on a journey that starts in Jena. Their travel plan went from visiting 10 countries in 10 days to 14 countries in 14 days.
With camera, recording device and a backpack full of questions, the travelers delved into supposed and actual clichés, put opinions to the test, asked about the image of “the Germans” abroad and, last but not least, their own identity. As ambassadors of the application, they were interested in looking ahead and asking what people hope for their future and what should come next for Europe. On their journey, they visited museums and memorials and had countless conversations about the recent past, the current present and the upcoming future.
