The conferences offered by Rencontre Réconciliation give a voice to European women and men confronted with the legacy of the Second World War.
Through intimate family stories – sometimes kept silent for decades – they explore transmission, silences, conflicts of loyalty, and how history continues to affect subsequent generations.
These meetings do not seek to judge or explain history, but to open a space for listening, understanding and dialogue, in France and in Europe.
Suggested themes
Resistance and family legacies
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Inheriting the Resistance: European Family Narratives
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Resisting in Nazi Germany: Perspectives of Descendants
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Passing on history: silences, unspoken words, and family stories
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Memory, transmission and reconciliation in Europe
Exploratory themes (primarily via videoconference)
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Prisoners of war: family legacies and European memories
(prefiguration of a later, structuring project)
Our conference formats
Conferences - Testimonials
European women and men share their family history related to the Second World War.
Their stories address silences, invisible legacies, inner conflicts, and paths to rebuilding.
👉 Format suitable for cultural venues, media libraries, associations, communities.
Video conferences and webinars
Online meetings allow you to exchange ideas with French, German or Dutch speakers, without geographical constraints.
These formats promote European dialogue and the circulation of memories across borders.
👉 Ideal for schools, associations, remote audiences.
Readings and theatrical forms
Some stories take the form of read-alouds or understated theatrical creations, sometimes accompanied by music.
These sensitive formats allow for a different approach to memory, one that is more emotional and immersive.
👉 Suitable for diverse audiences, including young people and remote audiences.
Time for discussion with the public
Each conference leaves ample room for questions, dialogue, and the sharing of experiences.
These exchanges are conceived as a space for respectful listening, without judgment or ideological positioning.
👉 A central moment in the plan.
Financial conditions (principles)
The conferences offered by Rencontre Réconciliation result in:
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compensation for those involved,
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covering actual expenses (travel, accommodation, meals if necessary),
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participation in coordination and facilitation.
The financial arrangements are defined on a case-by-case basis, in consultation with the host structure, according to the chosen format and the funding that can be mobilized.
👉 As a guide, a face-to-face conference with two speakers generally corresponds to an overall budget of around €1,000.
Target audience
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Universities and higher education institutions
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Franco-German houses and cultural centers
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Memorial and civic associations
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Local authorities
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European and international audiences
No prior historical knowledge is required.
Partnerships and distribution
This offer can be registered:
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as part of a one-off event,
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a series of lectures,
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or a subsidized project.
It is aimed in particular at:
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to universities (with local partners),
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to the network of Franco-German Houses,
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to partner associations in France and Europe.