Places of Memory: Speeches, Visits, and Sites in Three European Experiences

The twentieth century was a turbulent time on the European continent, and its history continues to reverberate today. In 2014 and 2015, nations across Europe marked the anniversaries of a number of conflicts—most notably, the beginning of one and end of another world war, the Srebrenica massacre, and the Armenian genocide. It also marks an anniversary symbolic of the power of apology and memory: the 50th anniversary of German-Israeli diplomatic relations.
The resources presented here highlight how both the aggressors and the victims commemorate their experiences of war, conflict, and unspeakable tragedy. They demonstrate how remembrance can start a process of reconciliation, but also lead to new forms of contestation.