Shared History, Common Future. German Unity in Conversation

The event 'Shared History, Common Future. German Unity in Conversation' will take place on November 19, 2026, from 7:00 PM in the conference hall of the Haus Celsa-Pia at the IBZ St. Marienthal in Ostritz. Admission to the evening is free. Registration is not required.

The format is organized in cooperation with the Federal Foundation for the Reappraisal of the SED Dictatorship, the IBZ Foundation, as well as the project 'Geliebte Heimat'. In parallel to the event, the exhibition 'Umbruch Ost. Lebenswelten im Wandel' (East in Transition. Changing Lifeworlds) can be viewed.

Personal stories show how the Wende changed people, families, and regions. Together, we look back at the changes in cities and rural areas, discuss regional differences, and ask how social cohesion can be strengthened.

One Country, Many Stories

German unity is both history and the present. Reason enough to reflect on the past decades and to ask about our common future. In the event, we take a look back at the unification process. We will talk about the end of the GDR, successes and failures, about major developments as well as personal experiences during the period of transition.

But we also look ahead: What does 'unity' mean in an increasingly diverse society? How do we counter division and polarization? How united can we be in the face of different realities of life in East and West, city and countryside, between young and old?

Far from prejudice, we want to enter into a conversation with one another on how we can strengthen unity and make our democracy resilient.

The evening will be moderated by Dr. Judith Enders. Discussing on the podium are Nadja Klier, Matthias Schwarzbach, and Günter Vallentin.