Youth, Memory, and Diplomacy: German Consulate in Milan Hosts Remembrance Project in Tuscany
German students honor memory and human rights through cross-border exhibition
September 10th, 2025
From August 30 to September 14, 2025, the Villa Paolina in Viareggio (Tuscany) hosted the exhibition “Gegen das Vergessen / Per non dimenticare – Sant’Anna di Stazzema”, an initiative presented by students from the Berufskolleg Ost in Essen with the support of the Consulate General of Germany in Milan.
The exhibition, dedicated to remembrance and human rights, focused on the tragic massacre of Sant’Anna di Stazzema during the Second World War. Through artistic works, historical documentation, and educational projects, the German students invited Italian and international visitors to reflect on the importance of memory in building a democratic and peaceful Europe.
The initiative illustrated the power of youth-led cultural diplomacy: by confronting the past together, young Germans and Italians fostered a dialogue about justice, responsibility, and reconciliation. The exhibition also highlighted the continuing role of German institutions abroad in supporting remembrance culture as part of their diplomatic mission.
Visitors to Villa Paolina praised the project for its authenticity and emotional depth, noting that it bridged generations and national perspectives. By placing education at the center of remembrance, the students from Essen demonstrated how cultural diplomacy can contribute to collective memory and to a Europe rooted in solidarity and human rights.
