They are the grandchildren of war.
But the war never left them.
In Europe, women and men are discovering that their family history continues to act in silence.
Reconciliation Meeting
Transmission of Franco-German memories from a European perspective
In Europe, women and men are discovering that their family history continues to act in silence.
CURRENTLY AT RENCONTRE R É RECONCILIATION
European CERV project
Development of a European educational project focusing on family memories and intergenerational transmission.
Why these stories still concern us today
For a long time, some stories remained untold.
In many families, the Second World War did not disappear: it was transformed.
It can manifest itself through:
-
silences that are difficult to understand
-
family tensions
-
a diffuse sense of heritage
-
questions that remain unanswered.
Today, more and more descendants are seeking to understand.
Talking about these stories means:
✔ putting words to the invisible
✔ to ease relations
✔ to transmit differently.
What the war has left behind does not disappear: it is transformed.
True stories, unique journeys
Each testimony is unique.
But they all reveal the same reality: family history continues to live within us.
“My grandfather never spoke about the war. But his whole life bore its marks.”
Testimony collected as part of the association's work
Thousands of family stories still carry these silences.
👉 This type of story is now at the heart of the testimonies of descendants of the Second World War, in particular the Kriegsenkel, who seek to understand the invisible transmissions left by history.
An association committed to the transmission of memories
Rencontre Réconciliation is an association committed to transmitting memories related to the Second World War.
Rooted in the Franco-German dialogue, it develops European cooperation promoting exchanges between generations and between countries.
We work with:
communities
schools
cultural structures
European partners
people wishing to pass on their story
Our approach is based on listening, rigor and respect for individual journeys.
Who are we ?
Rencontre Réconciliation is an association committed to the transmission of family memories related to the Second World War, particularly from a Franco-German and European perspective.
Through conferences, testimonies and publications, we promote dialogue between generations and between countries, in order to better understand the legacies of war and their effects today.
Our approach is based on one conviction:
👉 Understanding individual stories helps to create connections between people and strengthen democratic values.
Our impact
The actions of the Reconciliation Meeting enable:
✔️ to give a voice to people whose family history has long remained silent
✔️ to raise awareness among younger generations about the legacies of the Second World War
✔️ to promote Franco-German dialogue through testimonials and meetings
✔️ to transform individual stories into tools for collective understanding
Each shared testimony contributes to a better understanding of the transgenerational effects of war and to building a more conscious and peaceful European memory.
Organizations participating in our initiatives
They support or assist our efforts.
House of Europe Angers — Franco-German Citizens' Fund — Maillé Memorial House — Children of the Resistance — Franco-German Center of Touraine — Wedemark War Memorial — Of Scenes & Fire