Young Germanists from the Faculty of Arts at UWB debated the future of Europe in Augsburg

European identity, cultural memory, and the experiences of migration were the focal points as students from the University of West Bohemia, France, and Germany gathered in Bavaria to discuss the pressing issues of our time. They read, debated, and created a documentary film.

At the end of June, students from three European countries were brought together for a workshop titled "Traumcafé Europa?" (Dream Café Europe?). In Augsburg, Bavaria, young Germanists from the Faculty of Arts at the University of West Bohemia met with peers from the Université Toulouse – Jean Jaurès in France and the host institution, the University of Augsburg. Together, they examined literary texts that reflect on European history and contemporary social challenges.

The workshop is part of a three-year international project. Building on previous meetings in Pilsen and Toulouse, this meeting focused on current fundamental topics: European identity, cultural memory, and experiences of exile and migration. "The project explored how a shared European identity is understood and shaped through literature, and what role the common history of European countries plays in this process," explained event organizer Markéta Balcarová from the Faculty of Arts.

The central focus of the program was the legacy of writer Lenka Reinerová and journalist Theodor Balk. "Their life stories demonstrate the vital importance of cross-border experiences, migration, and cultural dialogue in understanding European history," added Jakub Kasl, a German studies student at the Faculty of Arts. The participants in Augsburg also analyzed works by authors such as Stefan Zweig, Anna Fodorová, and Jaroslav Rudiš. Furthermore, Fodorová and Rudiš held author readings for the students, followed by Q&A sessions.

The gathering was not merely theoretical. Students also visited the Jewish Museum Augsburg and its local synagogue, as well as the Jewish Museum and the Munich Documentation Center for the History of National Socialism. These excursions were intended to help participants gain a deeper understanding of the history of European Jews and to connect their literary studies with concrete historical reality.

Finally, working in international teams, the students created a documentary film. They combined footage from the author readings, interviews with the writers, and recordings of events throughout the project. According to the organizers, the resulting film reflects a vision of a shared Europe, the potential for closer cooperation, and the problems currently facing the European community.