The discussion will be simultaneously translated into English and Belarusian.

The history of Belarus, Lithuania and Ukraine is significantly shaped by the consequences of the Hitler-Stalin Pact. This was signed on 23 August 1939 by the German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop and the Soviet Foreign Commissar Vyacheslav Molotov in Moscow.

The pact divided Eastern Central Europe into a German and a Soviet sphere of influence. As a result, the German Reich invaded Poland on 1 September. Around two weeks later, on 17 September 1939, the Soviet Union also invaded Poland and occupied its part of Poland. For the present-day nation states of Belarus, Lithuania and Ukraine, this had consequences not only geographically, but also politically and socially. Under the subordination of the Soviet Union, Belarus and Ukraine were able to expand their territory at the expense of the Second Polish Republic. Lithuania also regained control over an important territory, Vilnius. Nevertheless, all societies were subjected to forced Sovietisation.

What significance do the events of 1939/40 have for these three countries? How did different social groups experience and perceive these events? What role do oral history interviews play and to what extent do such sources contribute to an understanding of this historical upheaval? How are the historical events of 1939-1941 reflected in current cultures of remembrance and the memory politics, and what conflicts arise between the various actors?

Introduction

Felix Ackermann (Forum for Historical Belarus Research, FernUniversität in Hagen)

Moderation

Christoph Meißner (Museum Berlin-Karlshorst, Curator of the exhibition “Rift through Europe. The Consequences of the Hitler-Stalin Pact”)

Experts

Denys Shatalov (Research Group „Prisma Ukraïna: War, Migration, Memory“, Forum Transregionale Studien)

Aliaksandr Smalianchuk (Institute of Slavic Studies, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw)

Registration here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_WegzCES0THCk248J59gvQw